Laser scanning confocal microscope is a kind of new analytical apparatus for molecular cell biology research.It has been used in many fields of biomedical research.Brief introduction of its function and feature is given in this article.Recent development is summarized in application of laser scanning confocal microscope for localization and quantification of tumor tissue and cell protein,observation of sub-cellular structure of tumor ceils,study on tumor related receptor,distribution of antitumor drug and mechanism of tumor multi-drug resistance.

Objective To evaluate the significance of the treatment of intra- and extra- hepatic recurrent stones through the subcutaneous jejunal loop. Methods The authors respectively analyzed 24 cases of intra- or extra- hepatic recurrent stones and/or acute cholangitis treated through the subcutaneous jejunal loop from January 1989 to January 2003. Results Of the 24 cases, 10 cases (18 times) of acute cholangitis received drainage through the subcutaneous jejunal loop and their symptoms relieved (18/18); 14 cases (17 times) of recurrent intra- and extra- hepatic stones received selective drainage placement through the subcutaneous jejunal loop. The extra- or intra- hepatic stones were removed under choledochoscope through the subcutaneous jejunal loop, the stone clearance rate being 79.2% (19/24). Conclusions It is a convenient, minimally invasive, and effective method to treat intra- and extra- hepatic recurrent stones through the subcutaneous jejunal loop.

?Silent information regulator protein 1 ( SlRT1 ) is a kind of histone deacetylases class lll on which cell metabolism coenzyme NAD+ is dependent. By the transcriptional regulation, it participates in the regulation of gene transcription, energy metabolism and cell aging process, which can prolong the lifespan of organisms and delay the development of various age-related diseases and has attracted much attention in the field of anti - aging research. ln recent years, studies have shown that SlRT1 occupies an important position in the pathogenesis of many ophthalmic diseases, especially in ocular surface diseases, glaucoma, cataracts, uveitis, and ocular fundus diseases, etc. There is a possibility that the promotion of SlRT1 activity would be the new drug target of ophthalmic therapy. The paper will review studies on SlRT1 and ophthalmic diseases.

Objective To explore the effect of HgCl2 exposure on energy metabolism of renal mitochondria in rats and the preventive effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC).Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,HgCl2 group and NAC+HgCl2 group by body weight,8 in each.Control group and HgCl2 group were treated with physiological saline through intraperitoneal injection,NAC+HgCl2 group rats were intraperitoneally pretreated with NAC(0.4 mmol/kg),two hours after treatment,HgCl2 group and NAC+HgCl2 group were injected subcutaneously with HgCl2(1.84 ?mol/kg),but control group was injected with physiological saline,the volume of was 5 ml/kg,once a day for 14 consecutive days.Twenty-four hours after the last injection,all rats were sacrificed and the cortices of rat kidneys were collected.The mitochondria were prepared by using the differential centrifugation.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),the activities of phospholipase A2(PLA2) and succinate dehydrogenase(SDH),the mitochondrial membrane potential were measured.Results Compared with control group,the level of MDA and the activity of PLA2 significantly increased in HgCl2 group(P

ObjectiveTo study the protection of Chinese herbs on the ischemic brain of rats. Methods 75 Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, Group 1 for false operation. For the other four groups, the common carotid artery was exposed then was ligatured and cut off, Group 2 for model. From the 20th hour after operation on,Group 3, 4, 5 were fed with complex prescription of Chinese medicine named Prescription 1, 2 and 3 once a day respectively. 3 hours after taking medicine, Groups 2-5 were put in the hypoxia environment for 1 hours, then taking the medicine for 7 days. On the 7th day after operation,the blood was taken from R. atria then the rats were killed and the whole right brains were cut off. Malonaldehyde (MDA), notric oxide synthetase (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the brain tissue and serum, and calcium in the brain were measured respectively. ResultsThe three prescriptions can decrease the quantity of MDA both in brain tissue and serum and the calcium in brain tissue(P<0.05-0.001).Prescription 1 can enhance the activity of SOD in brain tissue while the others can decrease the activity of NOS. The hippocampus cells show tidy, and the number of the necrotic cells decrease greatly among them, Groups 4 and 5 are better than Group 3.Conclusions Prescriptions 1-3 can protect the brain tissue of the rat form ischemic brain injury.

As one branch of epigenetics, the sirtuins family ( ClassⅢ histone deacetylase) receive much attention in recent years. SIRT1 as the most famous of the sirtuins family members has been verified involved in a variety of age-related diseases. While the SIRT1 formation is paid more and more attention in age-related cataract. Now, we briefly overviewed the research progress on the role of SIRT1 in age-related cataract.

Objective To establish a normal lumbar spine 3-dimensional(3D) finite element model(FEM) and discuss the biomechanics of the lumbar motions. Methods A geometrical model was constructed on the basis of a healthy adult male's lumbar CT image.The lumbar spine FEM was established by finite element analysis software.After setting the boundary and loading the burden,the lumbar spine's range of motion and stress distribution in different institutions such as anterior flexion,posterior extension,left or right bending and axial rotating were recorded. Results The lumbar spine FEM included 114 953 tetrahedron units.The results of the FEM matched the results of the in vitro experiment of biomechanics. Conclusion The lumbar spine FEM can imitate the motions of the lumbar spine.

Objective To establish a desirable quantitative assay system to evaluate the correlation between surgical manipulation and micrometastasis in primary esophageal cancer patients.Methods 118 pe- ripheral blood samples from 40 esophageal cancer patients undergoing radical resection were collected before surgery(B-1),immediately after surgery(B0)and at the third day postoperatively(B+3).Based on real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)mRNA gene was used in the detec- tion.12 patients with benign tumor and 13 healthy volunteers were collected as negative control groups.Re- sults The median of CEA mRNA copies at B-1,B0 and B+3 were 1592,13 314 and 6221 copies/ml blood, respectively.CEA mRNA expression levels were found to be significantly higher at both B0 and B+3 than that of B-1(P=0.0001 and 0.0209,respectively).No significant difference was found between B0 and B+3(P= 0.4396).Conclusion Surgical manipulation on esophageal cancer patients increases the probability of mi- crometastasis.Therefore,adjuvant therapy is needed during perioperative stage.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Mitochondria ; immunology ; Signal Transduction

Objective To study B lymphocyte subsets(na(?)ve B cells,memory B cells and plas- mablasts)of peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and its relationship with autoantibod- ies and clinical manifestation.Methods Blood samples and clinical data of 60 patients with RA were enrolled into this study.They were divided into three groups:active,inactive and refractory RA based on clinical mani- festations and 24 healthy controls were included.CD19 and CD27 of B cells in peripheral blood of RA patients and healthy controls were detected using flow cytometry at single-cell level.Frequence of na(?)ve B cells (CD19~+CD27~-),memory B cells(CD19~+CD27~(dim)),plasmablasts(CD19~+CD27~(high))and average fluorescence in- tensity of CD19 were analyzed,and their relationship with clinical manifestations and rheumatoid factor(RF), anti-typeⅡcollagen(anti-CⅡ),anti-cyclic citrullianted peptide(CCP)antibodies were investigatied.Results Frequence of na(?)ve B cells and plasmablasts in peripheral blood of patients with RA was increased compared with normal control.In contrast,memory B cells in patients with RA were decreased.The na(?)ve B cells subset in inactive and refractory RA was higher than that of healthy controls(P＜0.05),and the memory B cells subset in those groups was lower than that of healthy controls(P＜0.05).The plasmablasts in active and refractory groups of RA were higher than those of healthy controls(P＜0.05).The average fluorescence intensity of CD19 in peripheral blood in patients with RA was positively correlated with ESR,C-reactive protein(CRP),healthy assessment questionaire(HAQ),and plasmablasts was positively correlated with arthrocele index.Na(?)ve B cells,memory B cells and plasmablasts subsets had no relation with RF,anti-CⅡand anti-CCP antibodies. Conclusion B cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with RA are significantly abnormal,characterized by expanded naive B cells and plasmablasts but diminished memory B cells.Plasmablasts are increasesd in active and refractory groups of RA,and have positive correlation with swollen joint index.B cells may play an important rote in the pathogenesis of RA.