Objective To investigate the protective effects of Green Tangerine induced hypertension and mild hypothermia on focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion and local cerebral glucose utilization(LCGU)in the in- farction rim in rats.Methods A total of 64 rats were used and randomly divided into a control group,a Green Tan- gerine induced hypertension group,a mild hypothermia group and a combination therapy group.The neurologic defi- cits,infarct size and LCGU were observed in the rats with focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.Results Com- pared with the control group,the neurologic deficits(P

AIM:To observe the pathological changes of the lower segment of nasolacrimal duct mucosa in rabbits at different stages after retrograde lachrymal dilated drainage tube implantation.
METHODS:Totally 14 New Zealand rabbits were used in the present study. One side of nasolacrimal duct was obstructed to produce an experimental model and operated the reverse implantation of nasolacrimal duct intubation. Histological changes of the lower segment of nasolacrimal duct mucosa were observed by routine light microscope at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14wk after the operation.
RESULTS: Compared with the control side, the group of 2 and 4wk after surgery presented the inflammatory cytokine. The group of 12wk after the operation presented isolated granuloma. Group 12 and 14wk presented scattered granuloma. The size of the granulomas was smaller and the density of epithelioid cell and fibroblast were lower in group 12wk than those in group 14wk by HE and Masson trichrome stain.
CONCLUSION:Recurrent Silicone Tube is used to treat nasolacrymal duct obstruction. Nasolacrimal duct can be narrowed and blocked again by granuloma, progressive fibrosis and adhesion of surrounding tissues when tube is in the duct more than 12wk.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the materials used in clinical practice to repair cruciate ligament of knee joint contain auto-graft bone- mid 1/3 patella tendon-bone (B-T-B), auto-semitendinous muscle, gracilis muscle and allogenic tissue graft. All of them are limited to a certain degree in clinical application. Therefore, people hope to consistently develop artificial ligaments to take the place of auto- and allografts. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility to construct artificial biological ligament (ABL) by applying a novel biochemical technique using porcine tendon as the raw material. DESIGN: Research of new biological material. SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. MATERIALS: Adult pigs of either gender were provided by the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University. Scanning electron microscope (SEM, S-520) was provided by Hitachi, Japan, and micro-controlled electron tension-testing device (Model LWK-10B) by Guangzhou Experimental Devices Factory. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2004 to June 2005. ABL was established by means of treating porcine tendon with epoxy cross-linking fixation, diversified antigen minimization process, mechanic enhancement modification and surface activating process. Under aseptic condition, a 6-month-old goat's bone marrow was abstracted, and then the bone marrow matrix stem cells were cultured in ABL stent for 3 weeks. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe structure and compatibility of artificial ligament, and mechanics test was used to analyze biomechanics characteristics of ABL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Structural features, cell compatibility and biomechanics characteristics of ABL.RESULTS: ① Structural features of ABL: The appearance of ABL was similar to that of the normal human ligament. Histological examination showed that the ABL was collagen fibers with no cells. Electron microscope examination revealed that the ABL was composed of hair-looking and fiber-like objects running uniformly in a certain direction and closely parallel-arranged. ② Cell compatibility: Three weeks after xenogenic marrow matrix cells were cultured on the surface of the ABL, it was noted that cells adhered and the matrix secreted by the cells precipitated around the cells. There were no cells found inside the ABL. ③ Mechanical strength of the ligament: The average diameter of ABL was 5 mm and the mechanical test at a speed of 100 mm/min showed that its averaged tensile limit was 927.19 N and the tension-resistant strength was 47.22 N/mm those were close to the corresponding parameters of the normal goat's ACL. The normal goat's ACL was 5 mm. The greatest tensile load was 807.50 N and the tension-resistant strength was 41.13 N/mm.CONCLUSION:As we used the unique biochemical technique and minimized the xenogenic protein immunogenicity of the porcine tendon, ABL has acceptable biomechanical properties and superior biocompatibility. As a substitute of the ligament in the reconstruction of the ACL, ABL has a promising prospect in clinical applications.

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absolute bioavailability of caffeic acid in rats and its intestinal absorption properties.

METHODThe absolute bioavailability (Fabs) of caffeic acid was obtained after iv (2 mg x kg(-1)) or ig (10 mg x kg(-1)) administration to rats. The intestinal absorption of caffeic acid was explored by the recirculating vascularly perfused rat intestinal preparation. Caco-2 cell model was applied to measure the permeability of caffeic acid from apical to basolateral said (A-B) and from basolateral to apical said (B-A).

RESULTA two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was best to describe the pharmacokinetics of caffeic acid following iv or ig administration. The Fabs of caffeic acid was 14. 7% , and its intestinal absorption was 12.4%. The values of Papp A-->B and Papp B-->A of caffeic acid were retained stable while its concentration was changed. The efflux ratio values in this study surveyed were above 2.0, and suggesting caffeic acid was active transport.

CONCLUSIONCaffeic acid was shown to have poor permeability across the Caco-2 cells, low intestinal absorption and low oral bioavailability in rats.

Animals ; Biological Availability ; Caco-2 Cells ; Caffeic Acids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of ultrasonography for structural examination in the diagnosis of fetal brain malformation and neural tube defects ( NTDs ) in early pregnancy . Methods A retrospective study was conducted to analyse 6 630 cases taking obstetric examination in Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from February 2014 to June 2015. The examination included a standardized ultrasound structural examination at 11-13 plus 6 weeks of pregnancy. The autopsied results of the induced fetus in early pregnancy from craniocerebral and neural tube structure malformation were investigated. All the cases were followed up concerning the outcomes and the malformation detection rate was calculated for analysis. Results The detection rates of exencephalus and anencephalus, holoprosencephaly, aphylly-holoprosencephaly, rachischisis, open spina bifida, and meningocele were 100%, 80%, 100%, 42.9%, 50% and 100%, respectively. The malformations which was missed in the early pregnancy but detected in the later gestational ages included:Dandy-Walker Syndrome, most of the non-open spina bifida, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, foliaceous-holoprosencephaly and ventriculomegaly. Conclusions The structural examination using ultrasonography at early pregnancy is effective in the detection of severe open-neural tube defects. It′s worth generalizing in the cliical diagnosis but part of fetal malformations still need a further ultrasound examination in the mid-gestation or the later gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree affected with recurrent fetal hydrocephalus. METHODS: A couple who had presented at the Affiliated Hospital of Putian College on March 3, 2021 was selected as the study subject. Following elective abortion, fetal tissue and peripheral blood samples were respectively obtained from the abortus and the couple, and were subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The fetus was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the B3GALNT2 gene, namely c.261-2A>G and c.536T>C (p.Leu179Pro), which were inherited from its father and mother, respectively.According to the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting; PM3+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the B3GALNT2 gene probably underlay the α-dystroglycanopathy in this fetus. Above results have provided a basis for genetic counseling of this pedigree.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Aborted Fetus ; Asian People/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Fetus ; Genetic Counseling ; Mutation ; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases ; Pedigree ; Walker-Warburg Syndrome/genetics*

The mechanisms by which emodin induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the proapoptotic effect of emodin on human NIH-H460 lung cancer cells and SMMC-7721 liver cancer cells was related to regulating RXR expression and function. MTT assay and DAPI staining were used to detect the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of emodin with or without 9-cis-retinoid acid on H460 and SMMC-7721. The reporter assay was used to detect the effect of emodin on RXR homo- and hetero-dimer transactivation. Competitive ligand binding assay was carried out to detect whether emodin could directly bind to RXR. The result showed that emodin could strongly inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of both cancer cell lines, which could be antagonized by 9-cis-RA. The reporter assay showed that emodin could inhibit the transcriptional effect of the homo- and hetero-dimer transactivation of RXRalpha dose-dependently. However, in vitro binding assay did not show that emodin bind to RXRalpha-LBD directly. The findings suggest that exhibition of emodin its anti-cancer activity may be associated with involvement of RXRalpha signal transduction pathways.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Emodin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcriptional Activation ; drug effects ; Tretinoin ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of combined gene therapy with interference hTERT and TRF2 gene on the treatment of breast cancer.

METHODSRecombinant adenovirus rAd-hTERT and rAd-TRF2 expressing siRNA-hTERT and siRNA-TRF2 was constructed, and the vectors were transfected into MCF-7 cells. Than the expressions of hTERT and TRF2 proteins were detected by Western blot, the inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation by MTT colorimetry, and the changes of MCF-7 cell cycle by flow cytometry and the colony forming ability of MCF-7 cells by clone form test.

RESULTSAt 48 h after transfection, the relative expression amounts of hTERT protein of the PBS control group, rAd-blank group, rAd-HK control group, rAd-hTERT group, rAd-TRF2 group and rAd-hTERT and rAd-TRF2 group were 1.00, 0.94 +/- 0.02, 0.95 +/- 0.04, 0.18 +/- 0.04, 0.95 +/- 0.01 and 0.18 +/- 0.04, respectively. The relative expression amounts of TRF2 protein were 1.00, 1.01 +/- 0.08, 0.96 +/- 0.02, 0.95 +/- 0.08, 0.22 +/- 0.01 and 0.26 +/- 0.02, respectively. After transfection of rAd-hTERT or rAd-TRF2 into MCF-7 cells separately, the inhibition rate of cell proliferation was only 54.6% and 48.4%, there was 8.9% +/- 1.2% or 9.2% +/- 2.3% of MCF-7 cells into M phase, 66.4% +/- 1.5% or 64.6% +/- 1.9% of MCF-7 cells was arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase, and the cell colony forming ability was decreased significantly (cell colony number from 100 in PBS control group down to 41.3 +/- 5.1 and 43.7 +/- 6.4). But after transfection by rAd-hTERT and rAd-TRF2 simultaneously, the inhibition rate of cell proliferation was about 82.1%, and M phase cells was significantly reduced to 4.4% +/- 1.2%. Large numbers of cells were arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase (81.4% +/- 1.3%), and the cell colony forming ability was more significantly decreased (cell colony number there were only 29.2 +/- 3.9).

CONCLUSIONMore effective effect of tumor gene therapy can be achieved by combination of interference hTERT and TRF2 genes as compared with interference by either of the single gene alone.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Stem Cell Assay

OBJECTIVETo measure the synovial thickness in the bilateral wrist joints, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints using high-resolution intraoperative ultrasound probe in healthy young and middle-aged volunteers to determine the normal reference ranges of synovial thickness in the joints.

METHODSThis study was conducted in 100 healthy young and middle-aged volunteers, including 50 male (mean age 36.2∓5.0 years; range 18-54 years) and 50 female (mean age 38.8∓5.5 years; range 20-56 years) individuals. The synovial thickness in the bilateral wrist joints, MCP joints and PIP joints was measured using the GE Logiq S8 18 MHz polo stick-like linear probe array.

RESULTSs No statistical significance was found in the synovial thickness of the wrist joints, MCP joints and PIP joints between the left and right hands, between young (<40 years) and middle-aged (≥40 years) subjects, or between the flexor surface and the extensor surface. In the male subjects, however, the synovial thickness in the wrist joints, MCP joints and PIP joints was significantly greater than that in female subjects. A significant difference was noted in the synovial thickness between the wrist joints, MCP joints and PIP joints.

CONCLUSIONMeasurement of the synovial thickness of the wrist joints, MCP joints and PIP joints using high-resolution intraoperative ultrasound probe is beneficial for early diagnosis and therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Hand ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Membrane ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography ; Wrist ; diagnostic imaging ; Wrist Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult