Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Codonopsis ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Selenium ; pharmacology

BackgroundHypoxia and hyperglycemia are the common causes of retinal neovascularization.In these states,H+ accumulates because of the elevated glycolysis and failure of retinal circulation,thus the retinas readily acidified. ObjectiveThe present study was to explore whether retinal acidosis independently regulates the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and whether the regulation is related to oxidative stress.Methods The retinas from 2-week-old male SD rats were cultured with explant method in DMEM modulated by NaHCO3,and culture retinas were randomly divided into pH 7.2,6.8 and 6.5 groups for 24 hours.In addition,after 24 hours of culture as above described,retinas were washed using PBS two times and then followed by again culture in DMEM with pH 7.2 for another 24 hours.Also,antioxidant was added in different pH values of DMEM for culture as above described.The retinal samples were prepared for histopathological examination.The expressions of VEGF and PEDF proteins and their mRNA in retina tissue were detected by Western blot and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respectively.Results The retina showed the clear structure and morphology in pH 7.2 group and pH 6.8 group,but retinal vacuoles change was seen in pH 6.5 group after culture for 24 hours.No significant difference was seen in the expressing level of VEGF mRNA in retina between normal group and pH 7.2 group( 112％ ±11％ vs 100％ ±7％ ) (P=0.55),but those in pH 6.8 group and pH 6.5 group were significant increased in comparison with pH 7.2 group( 196％ ±43％ vs 100％ ±7％ ;251％ ±29％vs 100％ ±7％ )( P＜0.05 ).The expressing level of PEDF mRNA in retina in normal group was similar to that of pH7.2 group(86％ ±19％ vs 100％ ±33％) (P=0.64),but that in pH 6.5 group was significantly higher than pH 7.2 group( 230％ ±66％ vs 100％ ±33％ ) ( P＜0.05 ).The resemble results were found in the expressions of VEGF and PEDF protein.After pH reversion,the expressing levels of VEGF mRNA were 100％ ±13％,111％ ±9％,113％ ±9％ in pH 7.2 group,pH 6.8 group and pH 6.5 group respectively without significant difference among them (F=2.51,P=0.16).The expressing levels of PEDF mRNA were 100％ ±13％,110％ ±9％,108％ ±11％in different groups ( F =0.98,P =0.43 ).Under the presence of antioxidant,the expressing level of VEGF mRNA in pH 6.5 group increased in comparison with pH 7.2 group and pH 6.8 group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The expressing levels of PEDF mRNA were significant different among pH 7.2 group( 100±31 )％,pH 6.8 group( 282±45 )％ and pH 6.5 group(480±117)％ (F=20.73,P=0.00). Conclusions VEGF can be induced by retinal acidification alone,which may be regulated by oxidative stress.Under the retinal acidification,antioxidants promote the expression of PEDF,suggesting that oxidative stress inhibits the production of PEDF.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of Jiawu Mufangji Decoction (JMD) in treating rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) and its mechanism.

METHODSAA model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant were treated with JMD by gastrogavage starting from 18 days after modeling. On the 39th day, body weight, spleen and thymus index, and swelling degree of paw of the AA rats were measured, pathological changes of the ankle joint tissue were observed using HE staining, and serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSJMD could relieve the symptoms of AA rats, decrease the paw swelling, improve the weight and spleen and thymus index, reduce the dropsy of joints and lymphocytes infiltration, inhibit the proliferation of synovium, and obviously lower the serum levels of interleukin-1beta and TNF-alpha.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of JMD might be related to its action in down-regulating the serum levels of IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

A novel method was developed for the rapid determination of multi-indicators in corni fructus by means of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) based least squares support vector machine was investigated to increase the levels of quality control. The calibration models of moisture, extractum, morroniside and loganin were established using the PSO-LS-SVM algorithm. The performance of PSO-LS-SVM models was compared with partial least squares regression (PLSR) and back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN). The calibration and validation results of PSO-LS-SVM were superior to both PLS and BP-ANN. For PSO-LS-SVM models, the correlation coefficients (r) of calibrations were all above 0.942. The optimal prediction results were also achieved by PSO-LS-SVM models with the RMSEP (root mean square error of prediction) and RSEP (relative standard errors of prediction) less than 1.176 and 15.5% respectively. The results suggest that PSO-LS-SVM algorithm has a good model performance and high prediction accuracy. NIR has a potential value for rapid determination of multi-indicators in Corni Fructus.
Algorithms ; Calibration ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Models, Theoretical ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Support Vector Machine

OBJECTIVEAs a new kind of reinforcing filler, ultrafine diamond (UFD) is added into photocurable composite core materials. The properties of the materials are then measured to see if there is any improvement.

METHODSDifferent content of barium glass and UFD were added into resin matrix to fabricate six groups of photocurable composite core materials. For each group of the materials, the flexural strength, Vicker's micro-hardness and depth of cure were measured. Data of the flexural strength and Vicker's micro-hardness was then collected and analyzed by One-Way ANOVA.

RESULTSFor the two kinds of composites with barium glass of 60% and 70%, only a small quantity of modified UFD with 0.2% weight percentage could improve the flexural strength of the composites by 34% and 21% respectively, the microhardness was improved by 23% and 30% respectively. The depth of cure of the composite core materials were more than 2 mm, which had reached the demand of the corresponding ISO criteria. The addition of UFD could make the composite core materials darker and grayer.

CONCLUSIONMicro-quantity of UFD can improve the mechanical properties of composite resins notably, and it will not affect the curability of the materials, but the defect in the color need to be reformed.

Barium Compounds ; Composite Resins ; Diamond ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; Methacrylates ; Pliability ; Silicon Dioxide

Psychrotrophs were isolated by using four media from low-temperature sewage of sewage treatment plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Totally, 154 strains were obtained including 12 filamentous fungi, 46 yeasts, 6 actinomycetes and 90 bacteria. The results of tolerance tests of the isolates to salt, phenol and SDS, and enzyme producing characters of amylase, proteinase and esterase were shown. Then 60 bacterial strains were chosen for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis. The blasting results showed that the strains were assigned to 13 recognized genera , and the Strain 39 exhibited 96.6% similarity to Acinetobacter lwoffii(DSM2403), indicating that it might be a novel species. These results suggested that there were a lot of psychrotrophs and rich bacterial diversity in low-temperature sewage. In addition, which maybe an important and potential library of microbial resources.

Objective: To learn the results of MNA ( mini nutritional assessment ） nutrition screening and influencing factors in the elderly living at home, so as to provide basis for improving the nutritional status of the elderly living at home. Methods: The elderly people at home were recruited from Yinzhou District, Yiwu City and Changshan County in Zhejiang Province by the multi-stage random sampling method. Their demographic information, living habits and nutritional status were collected by the MNA scale and the questionnaire for nutrition and health status surveillance. The multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze influencing factors for the nutritional status. Results: Of 374 study subjects, 186 ( 49.73% ) were males and 188 ( 50.27% ) were females. The age was ( 69.63±6.68 ) years ( range, 60-90 years ). The average score of MNA scale was 25.26±2.81. The prevalence of malnutrition risk in the elderly living at home was 20.59%. Age ( β'=-0.140), marital status ( β'=0.110 ), annual income ( β'=0.155 ), active physical exercise ( β'= 0.104 ), eating health products/nutritional supplements ( β'= 0.110 ) and satiety ( full diet β'=0.196 ) were influencing factors for MNA scores ( P<0.05 ）. Conclusion The prevalence of malnutrition risk among the elderly living at home is 20.59%. The prevalence increases with age. Having a spouse, doing active physical exercise, eating health products/nutritional supplements, having healthy eating habits are conducive to maintaining the nutritional health of the elderly.

Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Central Venous Pressure ; physiology ; Heart Function Tests ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Respiration, Artificial ; Shock, Septic ; pathology ; Swine ; physiology ; Venae Cavae ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThe inverted "T" operation is a typical and classic method for breast hypertrophy. Although having good results, it leaves significant scar and tends to have bottom-out deformity with time. The purpose of this study is to introduce our experience in vertical mammaplasty.

METHODSThe typical Lejour's design was used. The lower part of the breast was excised. The nipple-alveolar complex was elevated to a proper position with the superior dermal-glandular pedicle. Only vertical scar was left after the skin was closed.

RESULTS24 patients were treated using this method. The results were satisfactory except unilateral nipple-alveolar complex necrosis occurred in one patient. Another patient had a minor revision for the dog-ear 6 months after breast reduction.

CONCLUSIONSVertical reduction mammaplasty is effective with reduced scar and highly satisfactory results. It deserves recommendation.

Adult ; Breast ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo report the reduction mammaplasty with vertical incision and superior wide pedicle.

METHODSTypical Lejour mosque-dome design was performed. The inferior part of glandular tissue and skin were excised. The nipple-and-areola complex (NAC) was elevated to normal position with superior wide pedicle. The breast morphology was modified with vertical scar left.

RESULTS46 patients were treated. 4 patients had unilateral breast reduction. 14 breasts had wound dehiscence. 3 breasts received debridement, others were treated conservatively with dressings. No complete NAC necrosis occurred.

CONCLUSIONSThe reduction mammaplasty with vertical incision and superior wide pedicle is a safe and effective method with a low risk of NAC necrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult