BackgroundIron-containing foreign body trapped in the eyeball wall without affecting the opticus occurs occasionally in clinic. Operation always is performed in an attempt to avoid the deposition of rust in different tissues of the eye-balls. However,a few animal experimental studies showed that a small foreign body does not affect the retina and opticus in the period of three months. The question of whether surgery needs to be carried out is worth discussion. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of posterior intrascleral iron foreign body on the rabbit retina and opticus. MethodsTwelve healthy adult Japan flap-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. Medium carbon iron with rust or without rust( size of 2. 0 mm × 1. 0 mm×0. 2 mm) were implanted into the posterior sclera of the left eye to create the animal model with iron foreign body in the eyeball wall. The cornea, anterior chamber, crystalline lens, vitreous and fundus of the rabbits were observed under a slit lamp microscope 1weekbeforeoperationand 1week, 2weeks, 1monthand 3months after operation.Flash electroretinogram(F-ERG) and flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) were recorded at the time points mentioned above. All the rabbits were sacrificed and the eye balls were extracted at the end of the experiment, and the position of the iron foreign body was determined. The histopathological examinations of the retina and opticus were performed under the light microscope. This experiment complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. ResultsThere were no statistical differences for the a-wave amplitude of F-ERG among different time points( F =1. 885,P =0. 129 ) and different treatment groups ( F =1. 188, P =0. 340 ), as with the ERG b-wave amplitude ( time: F =2. 73, P =0. 064 ; group : F =1. 114, P =0. 367). The differences in the latencies of F-VEP N1-wave were insignificant among the different time points( F =1. 605, P =0. 263 ) as well as various groups ( F=1. 556, P =0.314 ), and those of F-VEP P1 -wave were not evidently changed ( time: F =2. 329, P =0. 092 ; group : F =2. 186, P =0. 103 ). No correlations were seen between the time factor and grouping factor ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). There was no apparent siderosis bulbi change during the follow-up duration. No morphological abnormality in the retina and optical nerve was found under the light microscope. At the end of the experiment,intrascleral iron foreign body was wrapped by surrounding tissue in a stable condition. Conclusions The small posterior intrascleral iron foreign body, whether it is oxidized or not, does not produce distinctive functional or pathological damage on retina and opticus in the short term.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Seventy-two PTC cases were divided into 3 groups according to the level of invasion: papillary microcarcinoma group (PMC group), intrathyroid carcinoma group (IPC group), and extrathyroid carcinoma group (EPC group). They were again divided into 2 groups according to lymph node metastasis: lymph node metastasis group and lymph node no-metastasis group. The expressions of VEGF-C, CD105 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) were detected by SP method of immunohistochemical staining. The expression of VEGF-C was analyzed quantitatively by image analysis system, and the PI of VEGF-C (VEGF-C-PI), the number of MVD (microvessel density), and LVD (lymphaticvessel density) were obtained. RESULTS: The VEGF-C-PI of lymph node metastasis group (23.15 +/- 3.75) was higher than that of lymph node non-metastasis group (14.54 +/- 2.93) (P <0.01). MVD was 35.25 +/- 2.06 in the PMC group, 41.75 +/- 5.46 in the IPC group, and 52.58 +/- 4.16 in the EPC group, which showed the elevatory tendency with the increase of invasion (P < 00.5). LVD was 6.00 +/- 0.81 in the PMC group, 13.80 +/- 1.81 in the IPC group, and 19.17 +/- 2.96 in the EPC group, which again showed the elevatory tendency with the increase of invasion (P <0.05). The LVD of lymph node metastasis group (19.56 +/- 2.45) was significantly higher than that of lymph node non-metastasis group (12.48 +/- 2.84) (P < 0.05). VEGF-C was positively correlated with MVD and LVD (r = 0.743, 0.90, P <0.01). CONCLUSION The expressions of VEGF-C and LVD are related to lymph node metastasis of PTC. MVD and LVD are related to the invasion of PTC. VEGF-C may play an important role in the angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIMTo explore the differentially expressed proteins between hypobaric hypoxic delayed preconditioning (HHDP) and normal mouse hippocampus.

METHODSAfter the animal model of HHDP was constructed, hippocampal proteins were obtained by a series of abstraction with lysis solution containing high concentration urea. As soon as isoelectric focusing and SDS-PAGE was performed. The resolved proteins in the 2-DE gels were visualized by Coomassie blue R-250. The gels were scanned, and the images were processed with PDQuest software. Differential proteins were exactly excised from the gels, destained and digested with trypsin. The peptides were isolated and sent for MALDI-TOF-MS testing. Database searching was performed using peptide masses obtained from MALDI-TOF-MS.

RESULTSAverages of 481 +/- 38 and 477 +/- 21 protein spots were detected in control gels and preconditioning gels, respectively. 169 +/- 6 protein spots were matched between these two types of gels. Among the matched spots, while the quantities of 21 +/- 12 spots in control gels increased by above 2 times than that in preconditioning one, the quantities of 33 +/- 10 spots in preconditioning gels increased by the same times than that in control one. The correlation coefficient between these two patterns were 0.7748 +/- 0.0267. 12 spots in preconditioning gels significantly increased compared with the control (P < 0.05, n = 4). Among 12 spots excised from the gels, perfect peptide mass fingerprinting spectrums of 8 spots were acquired. The results showed that one protein was fructose biphosphate aldolase A. Three proteins matched nothing might be new proteins. The other four proteins just matched the partial sequences of the proteins of database were no coincidence to it's isoelectric point and molecular weight. So they might be homological proteins.

CONCLUSIONMany proteins, for example fructose biphosphate aldolase A, has been differentially expressed in hippocampus of mice during HHDP. This may be one of the molecule mechanisms of HHDP.

Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Hypoxia, Brain ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Proteome ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the behaviors of the children suffered from the secondary deformity after the repair of the cleft lip.

METHODSWith the application of the PCPI, eighty patients with the secondary deformity after the repair of the cleft lip were selected in this study and 134 normal children was used for the control.

RESULTSIn the age between 6 and 11 years, there were no significant difference of the behaviors between the children suffered from secondary deformity of cleft lip and the normal children,but in the age from 12 to 16, the children with the deformity showed more behavior problems with the social withdraw and the poor social relationships, compared with the normal children.

CONCLUSIONThe children with the secondary deformity after cleft lip repair in adolescence could have the tendency to suffer from the behavior problems, especially showing the social withdraw and the poor social relationships.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; psychology ; Behavior ; physiology ; Child ; Child Behavior ; psychology ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; psychology ; Social Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDTumor necrosis factor a receptor 1 (TNFalphaR1) plays an important role in the signal pathway of apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of TNFalphaR1 knockout on the up-regulation of erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R) and the coordinated anti-apoptosis functions during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

METHODSThe ischemia-reperfusion injury model for cardiomyocytes was performed by ligating the left circumflex branch artery of TNFalphaR1 knockout (P55(-/-)) C17 B6 mice, as well as wild-type (P55(+/+)) C17 B6 mice. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed to observe the damaged area of the heart. TUNEL staining and DNA fragmentation were used to identify apoptosis. Mitochondrial Bcl-2 and Bax as well as expression of Epo-R and its downstream genes (Jak-2, stat-5, Akt, IkB-alpha, HIF-1alpha) were measured by Western blotting. The gene knockout mice were assigned into those undergoing the apoptosis surgical model group (KO group), and those subjected to sham operation (KOs group). Similarly, wild-type mice were either exposed to the surgical model (WT group) or subject to a sham operation (WTs group).

RESULTSThe myocardial damage ratio of the wild-type group after the operation was significantly higher than that of the knockout group, (50.5 +/- 6.4)% vs (36.9 +/- 6.9)%, P < 0.01. Similarly, TUNEL positive ratio of the wild-type group was significantly higher than that of the knockout group, (63.1 +/- 5.6)% vs (42.1 +/- 4.7)%, P < 0.01. The gray value ratios of Epo-R, Jak-2, stat-5, Akt, IkB-alpha, HIF-1 and mitochondrial Bcl-2 in the KO group were significantly higher than those of the WT group, P < 0.05; however, mitochondrial Bax was significantly lower than that of the WT group significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUsing the ischemia-reperfusion injury model in mice, cardiomyocytes of TNFalphaR1 knockouts exhibited anti-apoptotic characteristics. This information could be used to coordinate the prevention of myocardial apoptosis by up-regulating and activating the Epo-R pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Disease Models, Animal ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; In Vitro Techniques ; Janus Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to test whether transplantation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in New Zealand rabbits with myocardial infarction can improve heart function; and whether engrafted donor cells can survive and transdifferentiated into cardiomyocytes.

METHODSTwenty milliliters bone marrow was obtained from healthy men by bone biopsy. A gradient centrifugation method was used to separate bone marrow cells (BMCs) and red blood cells. BMCs were incubated for 48 h and then washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The culture medium was changed twice a week for 28 d. Finally, hematopoietic cells were washed away to leave only MSCs. Human MSCs (hMSCs) were premarked by BrdU 72 h before the transplantation. Thirty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into myocardial infarction (MI) control group and cell treated group, which received hMSCs (MI+MSCs) through intramyocardial injection, while the control group received the same volume of PBS. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery. Cell treated rabbits were treated with 5 x 10(6) MSCs transplanted into the infarcted region after ligation of the coronary artery for 1 h, and the control group received the same volume of PBS. Cyclosporin A (oral solution; 10 mg/kg) was provided alone, 24 h before surgery and once a day after MI for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was measured in each group before the surgery and 4 weeks after the surgery to test heart function change. The hearts were harvested for HE staining and immunohistochemical studies after MI and cell transplantation for 4 weeks.

RESULTSOur data showed that cardiac function was significantly improved by hMSC transplantation in rabbit infarcted hearts 4 weeks after MI (ejection fraction: 0.695+/-0.038 in the cell treated group (n=12) versus 0.554+/-0.065 in the control group (n=13) (P<0.05). Surviving hMSCs were identified by BrdU positive spots in infarcted region and transdifferentiated into cardiomyocytes characterized with a positive cardiac phenotype: troponin I.

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of hMSCs could transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes and regenerate vascular structures, contributing to functional improvement.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods Nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled in this study.Patients were given cyclophosphamide and granu- locyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)as the mobilization regimen.Urine was alkalinized and hydrolyzed to protect the function of the heart,liver and kidney of the patients.A CS3000 Plus blood cell separator was used to collect peripheral blood stem cells,which were preserved in liquid nitrogen.Two to five days before the administration of the stem cells,the patients were pretreated with intravenous injection of cyclophos- phamide (50 mg?kg~(-1)?day~1) for 4 consecutive days and antithymocyte globulin (ATG,2.5 mg?kg~(-1)?day~1) for 3 consecutive days.Granulocytes were recoverd by G-CSF stimulation.Then,the peripheral blood stem cells were reinfused.Therapeutic effect was evaluated by assessment of alteration of clinical manifestation (skin erythema),levels of proteinuria and antoantibodies,hematopoietic reconstitution and occurrence of transplantation related complications.Results After transplantation,all patients had been successfully en- grafted.The time for peripheral leucocyte count to reach 1.0?10~9/L was 7～15d;the time for platelets to reach 20?10~9/L was 0～21 d.The skin erythema resolved in all patients;proteinuria decreased to normal level and the autoantibodies became negative in most of the patients.Serum sickness-like response occurred in all patients,renal and heart failure in 1 patient,hemorrhagic cystitis in 3 patients,psychiatric disorders in 1 patient,candidal infection in 1 patient.Conclusion One-year follow up suggests that autologous stem cell transplantation is markedly effective and relatively safe for systemic lupus erythematosus.However,the duration of remission remains to be investigated in a long-term follow up study.

Objective To explore the effects of A DH1B and A LDH2 gene polymorphism and type of al-coholic beverage on ethanol metabolism, to provide data support for cases involving the interpretation of ethanol metabolism or back calculation of blood ethanol concentration in forensic practice. Methods A total of 81 volunteers were selected. The genotypes of A DH1B, A DH1C and A LDH2 were obtained by a multiplex SNaPshot genotyping method. Each subject was administered with 1.0 g/kg of alcohol. About 1 mL venous blood was collected before and after the alcohol consumption at 30 min, 45 min, 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 5 h, 6 h, 7 h and 8 h, respectively. The concentrations of ethanol and acetaldehyde in blood were determined by headspace gas chromatography. The peak times of blood ethanol concentration (Tmax), the peak mass concentrations of ethanol (Cmax), the area under curve (AUC) of ethanol (AUCethanol), AUCacetaldehyde and ethanol elimination rates (β) were calculated. In order to eliminate the influence of A DH1C, the A DH1C*1/*1 carriers were grouped based on the genotype of A DH1B and A LDH2. The data of each group were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance and pairwise comparison tests were performed by least significant difference method. The gene interactions were evaluated by two-way analysis of variance. Each parameter of three kinds of alcoholic beverage (white wine, red wine and beer) among groups was analysed by variance analysis with randomized block design. Results There were no differences in the value of Tmax and Cmax between the groups with different A DH1B and A LDH2 genotype. The differences in the values of AUCethanol, β and AUCacetaldehyde among some groups carrying different A DH1B and A LDH2 geno-type had statistical significance, while no significant difference was observed in these parameters when one individual taking same dose of different alcoholic beverage type. Conclusion The ethanol metabolism is associated with the related gene polymorphism, which is barely affected by alcoholic beverage type.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the apoptosis of germ cells in male rats.

METHODSAdult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group raised at sea level; a 5 d, a 15 d and a 30 d hypoxic group raised in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5000 m altitude for 5 days, 15 days and 30 days respectively. Flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to evaluate the apoptosis of germ cells in the testis. Bax and Bcl-2 in the testis were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSSeminiferous tubules with apoptotic germ cells were significantly more in the hypoxic groups than in the control (P < 0.01). Most apoptotic germ cells were spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Compared with the control group, apoptotic germ cells detected by PI flow cytometry were significantly increased in the hypoxic 15 d and 30 d groups (P < 0.05); Bax was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and so was the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 in the hypoxic 30 d group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes apoptosis of testicular germ cells in male rats. Chronic hypoxia increases Bax expression in the rat testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis