BackgroundThe study of the molecular mechanism of visual plasticity is helpful for the explaining and prevention of strabismus and amblyopia.The effect and significance of NogoA in the strabismus and amblyopia formation are attracting more attention.ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the expression of NogoA in 21a area of visual cortex in strabismic-induced amblyopia cats and explore the possible molecular mechanism of strabismic-induced amblyopia.MethodsSixteen 4-week old clean cats were randomizedly divided into normal group and strabismic-induced amblyopia group and eight for each group.The strabismic-induced amblyopia models were created by cutting off the external rectus in 8 cats.Pattern visual evoked potentials ( P-VEP ) were recorded 1 week after operation and compared with normal cats,and depression of amplitude and prolongation of implied time of P100 wave were as the successful criterion of model.The 200 ml paraformaldehyde was infused via heart to fax the brain under the deep anesthesia and then the cats were sacrificed and the brain cortex sections were prepared.The morphology of 21a zone of cat visual cortex was examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining,and the expressions of NogoA in 21a area of visual cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antiNogoA antibody.The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.ResultsThe implied time and amplitude ratio of VEP P100 wave were (98.10±7.07)ms and (0.83±0.14) in normal group,and those in strabismic-induced amblyopia group were (108.50±6.95 )ms and (0.35 ±0.09 ),showing significant differences between two groups (t=4.450,P=0.005 ; t =5.970,P =0.005 ).The numbers of neurons were similar in 21a area of visual cortex between the two groups,but the volume of the neurons was lessen in strabismic-induced amblyopia group.The positive cell densities for NogoA were ( 387.37±2.01 ) cells/mm2,( 354.58± 1.85 ) cells/mm2 and ( 289.68± 1.81 ) cells/mm2 in layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ,Ⅳ and V/V[ respectively in strabismic-induced amblyopia group,and those in normal group were ( 161.39± 1.98 ) cells/mm2,( 128.93 ± 1.26 ) cells/mm2 and ( 96.25 ± 1.49 ) cells/mm2,indicating a significant increase in model cats ( t =- 160.400,- 201.890,- 164.740,P =0.000 ).Conclusions NogoA may play an important role in the regulation of the sensitive developmental period of visual sense and its plasticity.

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemic situation of brucellosis in Datong city, and to provide scientific evidence for making appropriate prevention and control measures. MethodsSurveillance data of human brucellosis in 7 countris and 4 districts in Datong city between 2006 and 2009 were collected, throng the national network straight quote system in an infectious diseases. Excel database was established and all data were statistically analyzed. Incidence of brucellosis in local population was analyzed. The regional distribution, time distribution,occupation, age and sex distribution were analyzed. Epidemic characteristics and trend of brucellosis in Datong city were summarized. Results A total of 5195 cases of brucellosis patients in Datong were found between 2006 and 2009, the average incidence rate was 57.51/10 million. All counties had the disease, and the onset of the disease mainly in the spring and summer. Most cases were young males. Farmer case was 81.67％(4243/5195) of the total patients. ConclusionsFrom 2006 to 2009, epidemic characteristic of Datong human brucellosis ishigh-low-high(incidence). We suggests the Department concerned to strengthen the prevention and control of the disease in some counties, focusing on spreading of disease prevention and control knowledge among farmers and increase their self-protection awareness.

Objective To evaluate the possible molecular pathogenesis of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. The potassium ion channel gene KCNJ4 encodes one of the subfamilies of Kir channels, Kir2.3 subunit, which may play an important role in modulating neuronal excitation. Interference in the function or expression of this gene would cause disturbance of ionic concentrations, thus leading to seizure activity. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot analysis were used to measure the expression alterations of KCNJ4 mRNA as well as its protein product Kir2.3 channel in temporal cortex samples from patients who had undergone temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy (n=12). Tissue from 10 subjects who did not have epilepsy served as controls. Results The expression of KCNJ4 mRNA (0.438?0.178) and its protein Kir2.3 (M 50=0.063) were significantly decreased in epileptic brain compared with the controls (P

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; classification ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; metabolism

Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; drug therapy ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the difference in the efficacy and effect mechanism of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) complicated with depression between acupuncture and medication.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized-into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20) and the others, once a day, 6 times a week. The treatment of 4 weeks made one session and totally 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, nimodipine 30 mg, three times a day and fluoxetine 20 mg, once a day were prescribed for oral administration, for 8 weeks totally. Before treatment, at the end of the 4th week and at the end of the 8th week of treatment, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and solubility CD40 ligand (sCD40L) were determined respectively. The scores in Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Hamilton' s depression scale (HAMD) were evaluated in the two groups. The efficacies on cognitive function and depression symptoms were compared in the patients between the two groups. Results Compared with the outcome before treatment, mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was increased significantly at the end of the 4th week of treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). At the end of the 8th week, Vm was increased much significantly (all P<0.01). The differences were not significant in comparison between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the expression before treatment, sCD40L was reduced significantly after treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.01), but the differ- ence was not significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with that before treatment, MoCA score was increased significantly after treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), HAMD score was reduced sig- nificantly (all P<0.01), the differences were not significant in comparison between the two groups (all P>0.05). The total effective rate of cognitive improvement was 86.7% (26/30) in the acupuncture group and was 80.0% (24/30) in the medication group, the differences were not significant in comparison of the two groups (P>0.05). The total effective rate of the improvement in depression was 93.3% (21/30) in the acupuncture group and was 86.7% (26/30) in the medication group, the differences were not significant in comparison of the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could significantly increases CBFV and reduces serum sCD40L expressions in the patients of SIVD complicated with depression, and significantly improves cognitive function and relieves depression symptoms. The efficacy of it is similar to that of western medication. The increase of serum sCD40L expression is possibly involved in the occurrence and development of SIVD. Reducing sCD40L expression contributes to the alleviation of damage induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluoxetine ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To determine the frequency of polymorphism at exon 26 (C3435T) of muhidrug resistance 1 gene (MDR1) in epileptic patients in the southern Chinese and to study the association of this polymorphism with pharmacoresistance.Methods DNA samples were obtained from 134 patients,of whom 72 were resistant to antiepileptic drug treatment and 62 were responsive to the treatment. Genotypes of the C3435T polymorphism were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion and gel electrophoresis.Genotype and allele frequencies in the drug resistant group were compared to those in the response group by Chi-square analysis.Results Of all 134 patients,33 (24.6%) had CC genotype,72 (53.7%) had CT genotype,and 29 (21.6%) had TT genotype.The frequency of CC genotype was significantly higher in the pharmaeoresistance group (33.3%) than that in the responsive group (14.5%,P=0.012).The frequency of the C allele was also significantly higher in the pharmacoresistance group (57.6%) than that in the responsive group (44.4%,P=0.03).When patients were divided by types of seizure into three groups:generalized seizure group,partial seizure group,and undefined seizure group,the CC genotype and C allele were associated with pharmacoresistance in the partial seizure group.Conclusions In the southern Chinese,the CC genotype and C allele are associated with resistance to the antiepileptic treatment.This finding needs to be verified in studies with larger sample size.

Objective To explore the effects of lamotrigine on the cognitive function and the quality of life in epilepsy patients.Methods This was a prospective study and 91 newly diagnosed epilepsy patients were enrolled.The neuropsychological tests score and the quality of life in epilepsy inventory(QOLIE-31) were obtained before and after the treatment with lamotrigine.A battery of neuropsychological tests comprised the auditory verbal learning test(AVLT), the logical memory test(LMT), the digital symbol test(DST), the stroop color word test(SCWT), the trail making test(TMT), the verbal fluency test(VFT), the WAIS block design test(WBDT), the WAIS digital span test(WDST)and the Boston naming test(BNT). Results The repeated assessments in the patients taking lamotrigine were associated with significant improvements in many domains.The greatest changes were observed in the immediate and delayed recall of AVLT, DST, the time consuming of SCWT card C and TMT test A and B, the immediate and delayed recall of LMT, VFT, WBDT and BNT.For the quality of life, significant improvements were recorded in the fields of the seizure worry(38.81?16.06 vs 45.68?15.18), the overall quality of life(59.12?13.50 vs 64.99?13.33), the social function(64.59?25.14 vs 69.41?22.70)and the self-health evaluation (71.18?13.73 vs 76.75?11.30).Conclusion Improvements of the cognitive function and the quality of life can be observed in the initial period of medication with lamotrigine in epilepsy patients.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of fetal bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (FBM-MSC) on the development of human Th1 cells. FBM-MSC were isolated, cultured and expanded in vitro. The cells were identified by their phenotype profiles and differential capacity. Human CD4(+) T cells from healthy donors were cultured alone or co-cultured with FBM-MSC (FBM-MSC/CD4). In these two cultures, the quantities of Th1 cells (interferon-γ(+)) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the immunophenotype and multilineage differentiation of FBM-MSC satisfied the generally accepted criteria. FBM-MSC played an inhibitory role in the development of Th1 cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the percentage of Th1 cells in FBM-MSC/CD4 was significantly lower than that in CD4(+) T cells cultured alone. The protein level of IFN-γ in FBM-MSC/CD4 detected by ELISA was also lower than that in CD4(+) T cells cultured alone. It was also demonstrated that the expression level of IL-6 in FBM-MSC/CD4 was much higher than that in CD4(+) T cells cultured alone or FBM-MSC. The neutralizing antibody of IL-6 could increase the quantities of Th1 cells and the expression levels of IFN-γ. It is concluded that FBM-MSC may play an inhibitory role in the development of human Th1 cells, and the IL-6 pathway may be one of mechanisms involved in the inhibitory role.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; cytology

Nowadays, nanotechnologies have shown wide application foreground in the biomedical field of medicine laboratory tests, drug delivery, gene therapy and bioremediation. However, in recent years, nanomaterials have been labeled poisonous, because of the disputes and misunderstandings of mainstream views on their safety. Besides, for the barriers of technical issues in preparation like: (1) low efficacy (poor PK & PD and low drug loading), (2) high cost (irreproducibility and difficulty in scale up), little of that research has been successfully translated into commercial products. Currently, along with the new theory of "physical damage is the origin of nanotoxicity", biodegradability and biocompatibility of nanomaterials are listed as the basic principle of safe application of nanomaterials. Combining scientific design based on molecular level with precision control of process engineering will provide a new strategy to overcome the core technical challenges. New turning point of translational medicine in nanotechnology may emerge.
Biocompatible Materials ; Nanostructures ; toxicity ; Nanotechnology ; Translational Medical Research