Objective To establish a dual real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (dual real-time PCR) assay to detect human vitamin D receptor (VDR) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Methods GAPDH gene was used as the internal control. The specific primers and TaqMan probes were designed by Primer Premier 5.0 software, which were applied to detect the VDR/GAPDH mRNA levels. The obtained PCR products were puri-fied to construct the VDR/GAPDH recombinant plasmid, which was taken as the standard to analyze the sensitivity and re-peatability of the method. Results The amplification products were confirmed as the specific fragment of VDR/GAPDH by DNA sequencing instrument. The results showed that the sensitivity, linear range, the determinate coefficient, the amplifica-tion efficiency, the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation were 40 copies/μL, 4.00 × 101-4.00 × 105 copies/μL, 0.998, 96.10%, 0.09%-1.21%, 0.17%-0.51%for VDR, and 40 copies/μL, 4.00 × 101-4.00 × 105 copies/μL, 0.999, 85.15%, 0.35%-0.88%, 0.51%-2.46% for GAPDH, respectively. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the dual real-time PCR assay with high sensitivity and specificity can detect the relative expressions of human VDR by single reaction tube, which can effectively shorten the time and reduce the experimental error.

Objective To develop a duplex fluorescence RT-PCR assay for detection of scavenger receptor class B, typeⅠ(SRBⅠ) knockout mice. Methods Primers and probes were designed according to knockout region of SRBⅠgene and related substituted sequence. DNA samples were extracted from tails of mice and performed amplification using real-time PCR. SRBⅠgenotypes of mice were analyzed according to amplification curves of FAM and CY5 channels. Finally, the sensitivity of the method was detected and the accuracy was verified by the direct sequencing. Results The homozygous SRBⅠwild genotype showed an amplification curve only in FAM channel. When the homozygous SRBⅠknockout genotype was present, the typical S amplification curve appeared only in the CY5 channel. Heterozygous genotype showed two typical S amplification curves in both FAM and CY5 channels, respectively. The results showed that the sensitivity reached 4×101 copies/μL, and there was complete concordance between this method and direct DNA sequencing. Conclusion The new method is simple, rapid and accurate, which is suitable for genotyping SRBⅠknockout mice.

Background Nearly over 40 years have elapsed since the original findings of visual cortical plasticity,but none of drug has been found for curing amblyopia effectively. Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of different dose of levodopa on flash visual evoked potential(F-VEP)and morphology of visual cortex cells in monocular deprivation rat and explore the possible mechanism of curing amblyopia.Methods Monocular deprivation model were established by suturing eyelids of 30 2-week-old Sprague Dawley(SD)rats for 4 weeks.The 30 SD rats were then divided into 3 groups randomly and 10 rats for each group.Normal saline.20 ms/kg levodopa,80 ms/kg levodopa were intragastrically administered once per day after modeling respectively for 4 weeks.F-VEP was recorded after establishment of model and administration of drug respectively.The rats were sacrificed and the visual cogex was obtained for histological examination,and TUNEL technique was used to assess the structural change of visual cortex.Results The latency of P1 wave was significantly longer in the deprived eye than the normal eyes(P<0.05).After administration of levodopa,the latent periods of Pl wave in the deprived eye were obviously shortened in comparison with before administration of levodopa in 20 ms/kg and 80 mg/kg levodopa group (P<0.05).The difference values of latent period of P1 wave between before and after administration of drug showed statistically significant change in three groups(P<0.05).No evidently alterations were found in the amplitude differences of N1 P1 and P1 N2 waves among three groups(P>0.05).The number and structure of neurons in contralateral visual cortex of non-deprived eye were normal.However,the numbers of neurons in deprived eye were significantly less and presented the signs of para-apoptosis in normal saline group.In 20 mg/kg levodopa groups,the alterations of number and morphology in neurons of rat visual eogex were slight.TUNEL assay revealed that the numbers of positive neurons in contralateral visual codex of non-deprived eye were 2.20±1.23.while those in deprived eye were 53.7±9.36,27.20 4±5.96 and 10.70±3.23 in normal saline group,20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg levodopa group respectively,showing a significant difference among them(P>0.05).After usage of levodopa,the numbers of positive neurons was negatively correlated with the difference value of P,latent period of VEP(r=-0.815,P=0.000).Conclusion Levodopa has a therapeutic effect on rat deprived eye,and its possible mechanism is inhibiting the para-apoptosis of neurons and participating in the development and plasticity of visual system.

Objective To study the role of JAK-STAT singal transduction pathway in the interstitial fibrosis of unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO)mice. Methods Mice UUO model was established and the phosphorylation of JAK-STAT was examined at day 1,4,7 and 14 after ligation of the ureter.Mice in the treatment group were treated with daily injection of selective JAK2 inhibitor AG490 starting 2 h before ureter ligation until sacrifice while vehicle alone was given to mice in the model control group.Mice were sacrificed at day 14 after the establishment of model.Renal tubular lesion and interstitial fibrosis were assessed on paraffin section.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect renal macrophage infihration and α-SMA expression.The expression of collagen Ⅲ and MCP-1 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR.Phosphorylation of JAK2and STAT1 was examined by Western blotting. Results JAK2-STAT1 signaling transduction pathway was activated in UUO model.The activation of JAK2-STAT1 was closely correlated with the progression of renal injury,tubular histological lesions and interstitial fibrosis.AG490 treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1 (P＜0.01).AG490 treatment also significantly reduced tubular lesions[(21.7 ±1.7)% vs (49.4±1.0)%]and interstitial fibrosis(1.0±0.1 vs 2.3±0.2),α-SMA expression(0.9±0.1 vs 2.1±0.2)and maerophage accumulation[(13.3±1.6)cells/HPF vs (34.4±1.0)cells/HPF](all P＜0.01).In addition,AG490 significantly inhibited the expression of collagen Ⅲ and MCP-1 mRNA. Conclusion JAK-STAT signaling plays an important role in renal tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis.

Objective To evaluate the mechanical homogeneity pattern of isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.Methods Fourty six patients with 48 isolated plaques were undergone the high frequency ultrasound scanning,the real-time two-dimensional longitudinal-axis gray scale view at the maximal thickness of the plaque was obtained in three complete cardiac cycles.A dedicated velocity vector imaging(ⅤⅤⅠ)workstation was used for the off-line dynamic two-dimensional gray-scale image analysis and mechanics parameter(i.e.,the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain)assessment at the sites of the upper,middle and down stream separately.The length and direction distribution of the velocity vectors at the carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima were observed.Wilcoxon test was utilized for the comparison of the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain between two sites.Results The chaos phenomenon of velocity vector distribution at the sites of plaque intima occurred significantly differed from those uniform velocity vectors at the reference sites.According to the two groups of the higher strain value side and the lower strain value side on the upper stream and the down stream of the plaque intima,the peak strain at the higher strain value side was significantly higher than the lower strain value side(P=0.000).There was a significantly difference between the absolute difference of peak strain from the higher strain value side to the middle stream point of the plaque intima and the absolute difference of peak strain from the lower strain value side to the higher strain value side of the plaque intima(P＜0.017).Conclusions The length and direction distribution of velocity vectors of the isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view are uneven,the mechanical heterogeneity pattern exists at the plaque intima and could be visualized and quantitatively evaluated using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of four closure techniques ,large incision with plastic distal at‐tachment and clip with suction ,1 .1 cm small incision with plastic distal attachment and clip with suction in natural orifice translu‐minal endoscopic surgery(NOTES) .Methods Forty‐one ex vivo porcine stomachs were involved in this research .According to the size of incision and different methods of incision closure ,all ex vivo porcine stomachs were divided into four groups .Group A in‐volved 8 ex vivo porcine stomachs ,their size of incision were 1 .2-2 .0 cm ,and their incisions were closured by a clip closure direct‐ly ;group B involved 10 ex vivo porcine stomachs ,their size of incision were 1 .2-2 .0 cm ,and their incisions were closed by plastic end attachment with suction and clip enclosure technique;group C involved 10 ex vivo porcine stomachs ,their size of incision were smaller than 1 .1 cm ,and their incisions were by a clip closure directly ;group D involved 13 ex vivo porcine stomachs ,their size of incision were smaller than 1 .1 cm ,and closured by plastic end attachment with suction and clip enclosure technique .Stomach leaks were evaluated by leaking studies after the procedure .Results In group A ,1 incision was closed successfully ,7 incisions were clo‐sured unsuccessfully ;in group B ,2 incisions were closed successfully ,8 incisions were closed unsuccessfully ;in group C ,2 incisions were closed successfully ,8 incisions were closured unsuccessfully ;in group D ,11 incisions were closed successfully ,2 incisions were Closured unsuccessfully .Fisher′s exact test showed that group D was significantly related to the success of incision closure .The were significant differences between group A and D ,group B and group D(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Small incision(smaller than 1 cm) and plastic end attachment with suction and clip enclosure technique are optimal in NOTES procedure in this ex vivo porcine stomachs study .

ObjectiveTo elucidate the association of immune response to hepatitis B vaccination with HLA-DRB1 * 12 allele as well as the level of IL-4 and IFN-γ.MethodsSeventy-four healthy college students from Guangxi province who had non- or hypor -response to recombinant hepatitis B vaccination and 64 medium- or hyper-responders with the conditions of similar were selected randomly and involved in this study.HLA-DRB1 * 12 was detected by PCR-SSP,the level of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines were examined by ELISA.Results(1)The allelic frequencies of HLA-DRB1 * 12 was lower in the non- or hypor-responders than that in the medium- or hyper-responders ( 10.8％ vs 32.8％,P=0.002) ; (2)The expression level of IFN-γ in the non- or hypor-responders ( 7.21±7.92 ) ng/ml was much less than that of the medium- or hyper- responders ( 16.36± 11.00) ng/ml ( P=0.000).(3) The expression level of IL-4 in the non- or hyporresponders (3.18±4.45) ng/ml was much less than that of the medium- or hyper- responders (7.76±5.71 ) ng/ml(P=0.000).(4)No significant differences was seen between the expression level of IFN-γ in the HLA-DRB1 * 12 positive ( 13.18± 11.24) ng/ml and the negative ( 11.00± 10.29 ) ng/ml ( P =0.349 ).(5)No significant differences was seen between the expression level of IL-4 in the HLA-DRB1 * 12 positive (5.947±4.530) ng/ml and the negative (5.132±5.800) ng/ml (P=0.423).ConclusionHLA-DRB1 * 12 might be the allele enhanced immune response to hepatitis B vaccination.The expression levels of IFN-γand IL-4 correlating to Thl/Th2 cells might affect on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination.

Objective To observe the expressing changes of apolipoprotein M (ApoM),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) under the high glucose culture condition and investigate the inhibitory effects of ApoM overepression on the expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1.Methods HRECs were cultured in DMEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum and 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose and assigned to 6 groups.The cells in the normal control group were cultured in above culture medium;the cells in the high glucose group were treated using the DMEM with 30 mmol/L D-glucose;ApoM was transfected into the cells using lentiviral vector in the ApoM transfected group;lentiviral vector without ApoM sequence was transfected in the empty vector group;the cells transfected by empty vector were cultured in high glucose culture medium in the empty vector+high glucose group;the cells in the ApoM transfection+high glucose group were treated by ApoM sequence transfection and high glucose incubation.The relative expression of ApoM,TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA was detected using real-time quantitative PCR,and the relative expression of ApoM protein was evaluated using Western blot assay.Results Compared with the normal control group,the mRNA expression levels of ApoM,TNF-α and MCP-1 in the high glucose group were significantly increased (t=5.517,3.295,2.555;all P＜0.05).HRECs grew well after infected with lentivirus.The relative expression level of ApoM mRNA in the ApoM transfected group was 236.400±39.270,which was significantly higher than 1.000±0.153 in the empty vector group (t=5.995,P＜0.01).An enhanced protein band of ApoM was seen in the ApoM transfected group,and the protein band was absent in the empty vector group.The relative expression band in the ApoM transfected group was 1.000± 0.249 and 2.978 ± 0.285 in the cells cultured with normal culture medium or high glucose culture medium,respectively,with a significant difference between them (t =5.056,P＜0.01).The relative expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 in the mRNA levels were significantly different among the empty vector group,empty vector+high glucose group,ApoM transfected group and ApoM transfection + high glucose group (F =5.966,P =0.026;F =14.410,P =0.002).Compared with the empty vector+high glucose group,the relative expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA were considerably reduced in the ApoM transfection+high glucose group (P=0.017,0.004).Conclusions High glucose environment up-regulates the expression of ApoM,MCP-1 and TNF-α in HRECs.Overexpression of ApoM inhibits the up-regulation of MCP-1 and TNF-α expression induced by high glucose.

Objective The optimal access for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery is still uncertain .This study was designed to compare the practicability and maneuverability of transgastric ,transunmbilical ,and transrectal approach in abdominal surgery in a canine model .Methods Three dogs were used in this research .Three approach :trangastric ,transunmbilical and tran-srectal approach were carried out for abdominal exploration ,liver biopsy ,bladder biopsy and an attempted cholecystectomy .The ma-neuverability ,endoscopic image ,performer′s perception ,and spatial orientation were evaluated .Results The maneuverability of trangastric ,and transrectal approach NOTES were better than transunmbilical NOTES .Abdominal exploration ,live biopsy ,and bladder biopsy were completed successfully .The cholecystectomy was failed because of poor exposure and difficulty of separating the around tissure .Conclusion The optimal approach for upper abdomen NOTES is transrectal route .For lower abdomen NOTES , the trangastric approach is superior to other accesses .Further study is needed to develop more flexible and precise equipment for NOTES and to evaluate more feasible access approach .

Objective To evaluate the changes of left ventricular(LV) 3-dimension peak displacement (3D-D) during different cardiac pacing patterns. To provide a reliable mechanical data base for the optimization cardiac pacing. Methods Cardiac pacings in open-chest Beagle canine models( n = 10) were performed using three patterns[I, e. , right ventricular apical pacing (RVA-P), LV lateral pacing (LVL-P)and LV apical pacing(LVA-P)],3D full volumetric real-time imaging were acquired in a completed cardiac cycle. The 3D-D,3D-D peak time (3D-DTc) and the standard deviation of TC(3D-DTSD) were calculated and analyzed in different pacing patterns for difference and spatial correlationship. Results ① The 3D-D of LVL-P and LVA-P state decreased compared with BASE and RVA-P state, there were significant 3D-D difference of mid anterior,mid anteriorspetal, mid interior,mid posterior, mid lateral between LVL-P and BASE, RVA-P patterns( P ＜0.05). There were significant 3D-D difference of mid anterior,mid lateral,mid posterior between LVA-P and RVA-P patterns groups( P ＜0.05). There were significant 3D-D difference of all segments in apical level between LVL-P,LVA-P and BASE, RVA-P states( P ＜0.05). ② Corrected by the heart rate,the 3D-DTC of different cardiac pacing patterns were shorter than BASE state. ③ There were no significant 3D-DTSD difference between different cardiac pacings and BASE patterns. There were significant 3D-DTSD difference between RVA-P and LVA-P patterns (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions LV mechanical activation and synchronization could be maintained during RVA-P rather than LVA-P and LVL-P. Echocardiographic study of left ventricular 3D-D can actually reveal myocardial mechanical state during different cardiac pacings and BASE patterns.