Diabetic macular edema ( DME ) is a major cause of visual impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus, the central retinal thickness ( CRT ) is correlated with the visual impairment and the changes of visual function before and after treatment. Furthermore, CRT is related to the changes of macular microstructure. The subtle changes of retinal microstructure can be qualitative and quantitative analyzed by spectral- domain OCT ( SD -OCT) . In this study, the changes of retinal microstructure in patients with DME are reviewed, what is of great meaning to explore mechanism, observe disease progress, guide clinical treatment and prospect prognosis of DME.

AIM: To investigate the effects of human urotensin Ⅱ (hUII) on in vivo mesenteric microcirculation in rats. METHODS: For recording of microcirculation images in the mesentery, the intestinal loop was mounted on the stage of an intravital microscope equipped with a TV camera. Video images of microcirculation were stored by a video cassette recorder. Temporal changes in internal diameter and microcirculatory velocity of microvesseles were measured by computer using the ImagePro software. The blood flow in intestinal wall was measured with PIMII laser Doppler perfusion Imager (Lisca Sweden). RESULTS: The internal diameters of arterioles and venules in control group were (21.4?2.3) ?m and (38.1?3.6) ?m,respectively. In UII group, the arterioles and venules contracted immediately after treated with UII and up to the peak at 1 min [(14.1?1.4) ?m and (22.2?5.2) ?m vs control,P0.05). The blood flow in intestinal wall increased 1 min after treated with UII and up to high peak at 5 min(6.4?1.1 perfusion unit vs control 4.2?0.9,P

Objective: To improve the economic and technical indicator’s evaluation system and the essential medicines’ centralized bidding procurement practice in China. Methods:By using the literature analysis, comparative analysis and field survey, we collected and analyzed the implementation plans and regulations for the essential medicines’ centralized bidding procurement in 30 provinces. Results: The quality level classification lacks in preci-sion. The economic and technical indicator’s concentration grade is low, the score and content in each indicator un-reasonably fluctuates in different provinces and these indicators are of low efficiency in bond with their structures for the drug quality evaluation. The quality level indicator lacks in the distinction degree and the government’s unreason-able interference exists in competition. Conclusions and suggestions: The quality levels’ indicator type and number should be simplified. The economic and technical indicators’ function, content, score, weight value and the structure should be normatively and scientifically set to improve the efficiency during the drug quality evaluation and the gov-ernment should strive to play their role in the market.

Objective To investigate the effect of escharectomy on rats' pulmonary NF-?B activation and the expression of pulmonary proinflammatory cytokines in early stage of burn injury.Method Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:group A(control group),group B(postburn without escharectomy),group C(escharectomy at early stage of burn injury).Thermal-injuried rats underwent 35% TBSA full-thickness burns. Activation of pulmonary NF-?B at 12 hours and 24 hours postburn was tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA),and at the same time expressions of pulmonary TNF-?mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and release of pulmonary TNF-?were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Compared with control group,activity of pulmonary NF-?B in group B was markedly increased,reached(19.56?1.36)?10~4 A at 12 hours and(15.23?1.94)?10~4 A at 24 hours,which was higher than that in group A[(4.36?0.38)?10~4 A,P

Objective To provide a practicable method for the complete display and localization of the posterolateral structures (PLS) of the normal knee through MRI study. Methods 30 tibial bone specimens were observed to establish the bony landmark for localizing the knee. In 50 cadaver knees, the angles between lateral tibial plateau and the long axis of the individual structure of PLS were measured. Then the scan methods of the oblique MR images were determined based on above results. The routine and oblique scans of T 1WI were performed in 40 normal knees. The display effect and appearance of the PLS were observed on MRI. Results The lateral tibial plateau was a stable bony landmark for measuring and localizing of the knee. In the 40 normal knees, The fibular collateral ligament could be intactly displayed on 70? posterior coronal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). The popliteus could be better seen on either 45? medial sagittal oblique in 34 cases (85%) or 60? posterior coronal oblique planes in 36 cases (90%). The popliteofibular ligament could be intactly appreciated on both 60? posterior coronal oblique in 32 cases (80%) and 70? lateral sagittal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). Although the arcuate ligament and the fabellofibular ligament could occasionally be seen on routine and oblique images, but the display rate was lower. Conclusion The oblique MR imaging can intactly display the main structures of PLS, and can be useful in diagnosing the injuries in those structures.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture plus spinal manipulations on the physical functioning and levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 128 AS cases were allocated into a control group and an observation group using random number table method, with 64 cases in each group. Patients in both groups took sulfasalazine and meloxicam. Patients in the observation group received additional acupuncture plus spinal manipulations. The efficacy, Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), and the levels of ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG were compared between the two groups after eight weeks of treatment. Results: After treatment, the symptom scores of traditional Chinese medicine in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); the VAS, BASFI and BASDAI scores in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); and the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these levels in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 92.2％ in the observation group, versus 78.1％ in the control group, presenting a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Conventional medication combined with acupuncture and spinal manipulations can improve clinical symptoms, accelerate the recovery of physical functioning, and reduce the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the lung tissues of rats with early-stage burn injury.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the normal control, burn, burn and PDTC treatment groups, and in the latter two groups, the rats were subjected to 35% TBSA full-thickness burns. Activation of pulmonary NF-kappaB at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 postburn hour (PBH) was tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assay , and the expressions of pulmonary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNAs at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared to that of the control group, activity of pulmonary NF-kappaB in burned rats was markedly increased within 1 PBH and kept increasing till 24 h. Expressions of pulmonary TNF alpha and IL-8 mRNAs increased gradually, reaching the peak level at 6 PBH, and PDTC could effectively inhibit pulmonary NF-kappaB activation and expression of the pulmonary cytokines induced by the burn injury.

CONCLUSIONSevere burn injury may activate pulmonary NF-kappaB, which ultimately leads to secretion of cytokines in the lung tissues.

Animals ; Burns ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; immunology ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression in myocardium of scalded rats in early stage of a burn injury, and to analyze its relationship with myocardial edema.

METHODSThirty-six healthy Wistar rats were divided into normal control (n = 6, without scald) and scald (n = 30) groups according to the random number table. Rats in scald group were inflicted with 30%TBSA full-thickness scald on the back, and intraperitoneally injected with Ringer's solution for antishock treatment. Myocardium tissue from left ventricle and serum specimen in rats of scald group were collected at post scald hours (PSH) 2, 8, 12, 24, and 48 (with 6 rats at each time point). Myocardial water ratio was determined by dry-wet weight method. The distribution of AQP-1 protein in myocardium was observed with immunohistochemical staining. The expression of myocardial AQP-1 mRNA was assessed with quantitative real-time PCR. The serum content of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) was determined with ELISA. The rats in normal control group were detected with above-mentioned method. Data were processed with one way analysis of variance and LSD test. Correlation analysis was performed between AQP-1 mRNA and myocardial water ratio, AQP-1 mRNA and the serum content of cTnI in scald group at each time point.

RESULTSCompared with that in normal control group, the myocardial water ratio in scald group was markedly increased during PSH 8-48 (P values all below 0.01), and it peaked at PSH 12 [(80.79 ± 0.12)%]. In both groups, AQP-1 was mainly expressed in endothelial cells of capillaries and pericellular membrane of myocardial cells. The expression of AQP-1 in scald group was markedly increased from PSH 2 to PSH 48. The expression of myocardial AQP-1 mRNA in scald group was markedly higher from PSH 2 to PSH 48 than that in normal control group (P values all below 0.01), and it peaked at PSH 12 [(6.2 ± 0.7)%]. The serum content of cTnI in scald group was obviously higher from PSH 2 to PSH 48 than that in normal control group (P values all below 0.01), and it peaked at PSH 12 [(5.83 ± 0.51) µg/L]. There were statistically positive correlations between AQP-1 mRNA expression and myocardial water ratio (r = 0.849, P < 0.01), AQP-1 mRNA expression and the serum content of cTnI (r = 0.973, P < 0.01) in scald group.

CONCLUSIONSAQP-1 may play a key role in the development of myocardial edema in rats with scald.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathies ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Edema ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Troponin I ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate various activities of dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid of Radix Glycyrrhizae and the powder by supermicro-pulverization.

METHODThe contents of glycyrrhizic acid in different samples were tested.

RESULTThe dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid was greatly increased by supermicro-pulverization. The more time used for grinding, the smaller the size of the powder, and the easier the glycyrrhizic acid would be dissolved.

CONCLUSIONSupermicro-pulverization is helpful to the dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid of Radix Glycyrrhizae, and the size of powder exerts great influence on dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid.

Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Solubility

BACKGROUNDMost of the basic and clinical studies of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) are restricted to bone tissues only, whereas various systems are involved in the onset and development of ONFH, including nervous system. Peptidergic nerve participates in the neuronal regulation of bone metabolism and anabolism, and plays key roles in the growth, repair and reconstruction of bone. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is secreted by peptidergic nerve, is the main mediator of bone metabolism. It dramatically promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Additionally, it enhances the osteoblast mass and the rate of osteoblast formation, and reduces the bone resorption by acting on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Hence, we aimed to construct recombinant retrovirus vector pLNCX(2)-hCGRPα and to investigate the proliferation and osteogenic potential of hCGRPα-producing BMSCs (BMSCs/pLNCX(2)-hCGRPα) after virus infection.

METHODSThe constructed recombinant retrovirus vector pLNCX(2)-hCGRPα was transfected into PT67 packaging cells by lipofectamine 2000. Virus was collected for BMSCs infection. The mRNA and protein expression of hCGRPα was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The cell proliferation was determined by methyl thiazoleterazolium (MTT) assay. The osteogenic potential of BMSCs was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity.

RESULTSBoth mRNA and protein expression of hCGRPα was detected in BMSCs/pLNCX(2)-hCGRPα cells. These cells exhibited significantly elevated proliferation and ALP value as compared with control BMSCs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBMSCs/pLNCX(2)-hCGRPα cells could stably express hCGRPα and showed promoted proliferation ability and osteogenic potential as compared with control BMSCs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction