Objective:To study the express levels of transcription factor nuclear factor-?B in diabetic rat retina. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control groups of 1, 3 and 6 months, diabetic groupsof 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Diabetic model of rat was induced by injecting streptozotocin (STZ). The retinal morphology was observed in paraffin slide by microscope. The expression of NF-?B was detected by immunohistochemistry and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results: Histopathological changes were detected at 3 and 6 months. The changes were severer at 3 months than at 6 months. Activation of retinal NF-?B was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunohistochemistry at 1 month, and the NF-?B remained activated at 3 and 6 months in diabetic rats. Conclusion: NF-?B is activated in retina in diabetes before histopathological changes can be seen, and remains activated for the duration when the retinopathy is developing.

Objective:Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-?B) has been suggested to participate in chronic disorders, such as diabetes and its complications. In contrast to the short activation of NF-?B , we observed a long-lasting activation of NF-?B and iNOS in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group and diabetic group. The pathological changes in the kidneys of diabetic rats were observed at 1, 3 and 6 months respectively. The activity of NF-?B and iNOS was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results:The change of histopathology was severer at 6 months than at 3 months and 1 month in the kidneys of diabetic rats. A comparable increase in NF-?B p65 antigen was observed in the kidney cells especialy in vascular endothelial cells of diabetic rats, and the expression of iNOS in renal tissues of diabetic rats was higher than that of normal control. Conclusion:NF-?B and iNOS may play an important role in the pathoge-neis of diabetic rats, and the expression of them may be considered as a predictor of progressive renal in- jury in diabetic rats.

Chitosan, deacetylated derivative of chitin, is a kind of natural polysaccharide polymer. It has advantages of rich source, good biocompatibility and biodegradation. Chitosan can be processed into porous scaffolds used for cell transplantation and tissue regeneration in bone tissue engineering, control-released carrier of growth factors and delivery vector of exogenous genes. Meanwhile, it can also be processed into injectable scaffolds used in bone tissue engineering in the form of microspheres or hydrogel. Chitosan and its derivatives will have broad application prospects in the research field of bone tissue engineering. However, chitosan composite scaffold has poor mechanical function, difficult accuracy control of In vivo degradation, and low efficiency for genetic carrier, chitosan research stays in in vitro tests and in vivo animal experiments. With the development of materials science and life science, chitosan will be widely used for clinical application of bone tissue defect.

Objective To explore the intellectual effects of arsenic in drinking water on children. Methods Intellectual effects were evaluated by computer-based reaction time and Combined Raven's Test. Children aged 9 to 11 years living in three villages of Inner Mongolia were investigated in April, 2006. The arsenic concentrations in the drinking water of the three villages were 0.16 mg/L, 0.09 mg/L and less than 0.05 mg/L (control group). Results The mean, fastest and slowest visual reaction time of children exposed to the high levels of arsenic through drinking water were longer than those of children in control. The differences of mean, fastest and slowest visual reaction time between girls exposed to 0.16 mg/L arsenic and control were significant; the differences of the mean and slowest visual reaction time between 10-year old children exposed to 0.16 mg/L arsenic and control were significant. IQ of girls exposed to 0.16 mg/L arsenic was significantly lower than that in control. Conclusion Intellectual function of children can be affected by arsenic in drinking water, and the intellectual effects of arsenic on girls are more obvious.

AIM:To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B),inducable nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)in diabetic myocardium.METHODS:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups.Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ.The weight,blood glucose level and heart weight index(HWI)were measured 24 weeks after injection.The myocardial NF-?B,iNOS and COX-2 were stained at the same time.Furthermore,NF-?B activation in myocardium was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).RESULTS:(1)Compared to the normal rats,the NF-?B-positive cells in the myocardium in diabetic rats significantly increased.(2)NF-?B activation in myocardium by EMSA was significantly higher in the diabetic rats than that in the normal rats.(3)The iNOS was not expressed in normal rat myocardium and was significantly expressed in the diabetic rat myocardium.(4)The COX-2 was rarely expressed in normal rat myocardium and was significantly expressed in the diabetic rat myocardium.CONCLUSION:The expressions of NF-?B,iNOS and COX-2 are significantly enhanced in the diabetic myocardium.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; drug therapy

AIM:To observe the effects of Liangxue-Jiedu (LXJD) prescription, a Chinese medicine, on the expression of CC chemokine ligand 20 ( CCL20 ) and CC chemokine receptor 6 ( CCR6 ) in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in a mouse model .METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group , model group, LXJD treatment group and chemokine CCL 20 monoclonal antibody treatment group .The mouse model of psoriasis was induced by imiquimod .The severity of psoriasis was assessed by the dermatologists using psoriasis area and severity in -dex (PASI).The morphological changes of the skin tissues were observed under light microscope .The thickness of epider-mis was measured .Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of CCL 20 and CCR6 in the skin tissue samples .RE-SULTS:The skin in model group showed a large number of scales , erythema and skin thickening .Compared with model group, the skin lesion in LXJD treatment group was attenuated .The erythema and scales were alleviated , the PASI score was reduced , and the expression of CCL 20 and CCR6 was significantly lower than that in model group .CONCLUSION:LXJD prescription down-regulates the expression of CCL 20/CCR6, thus attenuating the psoriasis skin lesions in mice .

Objective To develop an in vitro model for cranial suture of neonatal SD rat. Methods The parietal hones with the sagittal suture were removed from SD rats (19-days old) for organ culture. In the experimental group, tensile force 3.92×10~(-3) N (0.4 g) was applied by helical springs, whereas no tension (0 N) was set in control group. These explants were observed under inverted microscope. At the end of the incubation period for 24 hours, general conditions were observed under inverted microscope and histological conditions were observed after hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results Under inverted micro-scope, sutures had no obvious changes in control group, whereas sutures were enlarged gradually in the experimental group. With histological observation, sutures developed normally in control group, but in experimental group, osteohlasts and capillary vessels proliferated actively in the suture. Conclusions In vitro model of cranial suture can be cultured and grown successively.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with GSH for 12 weeks.The results showed that GSH significantly improved the expressions of NF-KB and inducible nitrie oxide synthase and ameliorated the myocardial tissue injury.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of three-dimensional ultrasound parameters-vascularity index (VI) and the volume of kidney in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A total of 80 CKD patients at different stages and 30 healthy adults were enrolled in the study. VI and the renal volume were calculated with three-dimensional ultrasound, while resistance index (RI), cortical thickness (CT) and the volume of kidney were calculated with two-dimensional ultrasound, and the correlation of those parameters were analyzed statistically. Results VI of CKD2 patients reduced significantly compared with the control group, and RI of CKD3 patients increased significantly, CT of CKD3 patients reduced significantly. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic value of VI in patients with early and late CKD were all higher than thpse of RI. Compared with the control group, three-dimensional ultrasound of renal volume and two-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD 1 patients increased significantly, three-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD2 patients reduced significantly, and two-dimensional ultrasound volume of CKD4 patients reduced significantly. There was significant negative correlation among VI, three-dimensional ultrasound volume, CT, two-dimensional ultrasound volume and pathological change scoring (r=-0.67, -0.52, -0.43, -0.52). Conclusion VI and three-dimensional ultrasound volume can detect renal function damage more earlier and sensitively than RI and two-dimensional ultrasound volume.