Aim To investigate the effects of monocrotaline pyrrole on production of nitric oxide and expression of eNOS protein of cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells and on contractility of cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.Methods DAF-2 fluorescence technique was used to determine NO level,Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of eNOS protein,and collagen gel contraction system was adopted to analyze muscle contractility.Results NO production induced by ACh and expression of eNOS protein were obviously inhibited by monocrotaline pyrrole compared with those of control group and gel contraction area in MCTP-treated cells induced by Thapsigargin obviously decreased.Conclusions monocrotaline pyrrole could inhibit the level of the ACh-induced production of NO and expression of eNOS protein,and enhance the contractility of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,which may be one of the possible mechanisms of MCTP-induced pulmonary artery hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia ; methods ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the plaque formation of the carotid artery in a population-based cohort of independently living healthy women above 60 years of age.

METHODSAnalysis of the healthy elders from a population-based cohort study in 9 communities of Beijing. Carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques were determined ultrasonographically. Serum testosterone levels were measured by immunoassay. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThere was an inverse correlation between testosterone and plaque formation in old females (P < 0.01), while no association was found in males. Female with testosterone levels in the lowest quartile (< 0.49 nmol/L) had more risk of plaque formation (OR = 3.805, P < 0.01) after adjusted with age and other traditional factors of atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONTestosterone concentrations are negatively associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in old women in Beijing, experimental and prospective studies are needed to determine the possible therapeutic role of testosterone in atherosclerosis.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Carotid Stenosis ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

Abstract： Objective To evaluate the filtration effects of various nanofiltration systems on intravenous human immunog⁃ lobulin（IVIG）in order to screen the optimal nanofiltration system. Methods Various nanofilters were used for IVIG filtration to determine the best one and then various prefilters were selected to combine with the optimal nanofilter for IVIG filtration to determine the optimal nanofiltration system. Results The tangential flow（cross flow）nanofilter showed better filtering effect than dead end（direct current）nanofilter，and nanofilter C was the best one. The effect of deep filtration prefilter was better than that of absolute filtration prefilter，and prefilter Y1 in series with nanofilter C was the optimal nanofiltration system. Conclusion The optimal nanofiltration system was determined through the effect evaluation of various nanofiltration systems filtering for IVIG.

Background With the development of phacoemulsification surgery,the minimization of the size of the incision in order to reduce the damaging of eye tissue and postoperative complications becomes a focus.Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of coaxial phacoemulsification type cataract surgery through a 1.8 mm microincision with foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes with age-related cataract.Methods Informed consent was obtained from each patient at the beginning of this study.A serial case observation study was designed.Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with age-related cataract were enrolled in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People' s Hospital from April 2012 to May 2012,including 8 eyes of grade Ⅱ hard nucleus cataract,16 eyes of grade Ⅲ hard nucleus cataract and 8 eyes of grade Ⅳ hard nucleus cataract.Ocular axial length was measured by an A-mode ultrasonic apparatus,and IOL diopter was calculated using the SRK-Ⅱ formula.Under ocular surface anesthesia,a 1.8 mm clear corneal tunnel incision was made at the 10-11 o' clock position,and then an auxiliary incision was made at the 2 o' clock position.The opaque lens was extracted by routine phacoemulsification.An Akreos MI60 IOL was implanted through the 1.8 mm incision.The time and level of ultrasonic power required for phacoemulsification,postoperative visual acuity and incidence of postoperative complication were assessed.Postoperative examinations were scheduled at 1 day,1 week and 1 month after the surgery.Results All the operations proceeded smoothly.The mean phaco-time was (7.0±3.6) seconds and the mean ultrasonic power level was (15.3 ±6.1)％ among the different grades of cataract groups.The number of eyes presenting an uncorrected distance visual acuity of ≥ 0.5 was 18 (56.25％),28 (87.50％) and 30 (93.75％) 1 day,1 week and 1 month after surgery,respectively.The number of eyes with a best corrected distance visual acuity of ≥ 0.5 and 0.8 were 31(96.88％) and 26 (81.25％),respectively,1 month after surgery.Negligible changes were detected in the anterior chamber depths,and no thermal damage was found at the incision during the operation.Conclusions Coaxial phacoemulsification and IOL implantation through a 1.8 mm microincision is safe and effective.Thorough planning and precise execution are necessary.

Objective To investigate the effect of up-regulating miR-34c-5p on cloning formation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE-1 in vitro. Methods Expression levels of miR-34c-5p in nasopharyngeal cell line NP69 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE-1 were investigated by real time quantitative PCR;Cloning Forma?tion Test and Transwell Migration Assay were used to explore the effect of up-regulating miR-34c-5p on proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE-1. Results The expression of miR-34c-5p in nasopharyngeal car?cinoma cell line HONE-1 was lower than that in normal nasopharyngeal cell line NP69. Up-regulating miR-34c-5p signifi?cantly suppressed the cloning formation and migration capacity, compared to those of NP69 cell line and HONE-1 with nor?mal level of miR-34c-5p(P<0.05). Conclusion Down-regulating miR-34c-5p involve in proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and may be a used as a new therapeutic target for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

16M?) ). Using this method could not only avoid the interference of medium on the chromatographic behavior of Ralstonia solanacearum, but also keep the cell viability and cell surface properties.

OBJECTIVETo assess occlusal balance of normal occlusion in intercuspal position with maximal bite force.

METHODSMaximal bite force was recorded in intercuspal position by use of T-Scan II system from 123 subjects with normal intact dentitions. Occlusal balance of normal occlusion was quantitatively analyzed from center of force, percentage of bite force, and occlusal contacts.

RESULTSThe relative position of the center of bite force, the difference in bilateral force percentage, and unsymmetrical coefficient followed normal distributions. The 95% reference ranges for corresponding testing items were -6.60 to 6.68 mm, -15.50% to 12.10%, and 0.65 to 1.39. There was no statistic difference (P = 0.915) in occlusal contacts between left and right sides. The 98.4% of normal occlusion subjects had the center of bite force locating in posterior region of dentition when biting with maximal force in intercuspal position.

CONCLUSIONSOcclusal balance could be evaluated by T-Scan II system. Occlusion of normal subjects biting with maximal force was stable and bilaterally balanced in intercuspal position.

Adolescent ; Bite Force ; Dental Occlusion, Balanced ; Dental Stress Analysis ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaw Relation Record ; Male ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of single heat stress treatment on spermatogenic cells in mice.

METHODSWe randomly divided 36 C57 male mice into a control and a heat stress treatment group and submerged the lower part of the torso in water at 25 °C and 43 °C, respectively, both for 15 minutes. At 1, 7, and 14 days after treatment, we obtained the testicular organ indexes, observed the changes in testicular morphology by HE staining, and determined the location and expression levels of the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) and synaptonemal comlex protein-3 (SCP-3) in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe testicular organ index was significantly lower in the heat stress treatment than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the controls, the heat shock-treated mice showed loosely arranged spermatogenic cells scattered in the seminiferous tubules at 1 day after heat stress treatment, atrophied, loosely arranged and obviously reduced number of spermatogenic cells at 7 days, and relatively closely arranged seminiferous tubules and increased number and layers of spermatogenic cells at 14 days. The number of SCP-3 labelled spermatocytes obviously decreased in the heat stress-treated animals at 1 and 7 days and began to increase at 14 days. The PLZF protein expression was significantly reduced in the heat stress treatment group at 1 day as compared with that in the control (0.19 ± 0.12 vs 0.64 ± 0.03, P < 0.01), but elevated to 0.77 ± 0.02 at 7 and 14 days, even remarkably higher than in the control animals (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHeat stress treatment can induce short-term dyszoospermia in mice, which can be recovered with the prolonged time after treatment.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Hot Temperature ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Seminiferous Tubules ; cytology ; Spermatocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Background Placement of an orbital implant is a main way to prevent orbital atrophy with aging.But its mechanism is under clear.Researchs showed that bone growth factors play important role during the development and repair of bone,especially transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1).Objective Present study was to investigate the expression of TGF-β1 protein in orbital bone after enucleation or enucleation with placement of an orbital implant and its function in the mechanisms of preventing and treating the orbital malformed development after enucleation with placement of an orbital implant.Methods Twenty-one age- and weight-matched New Zealand white young rabbits were randomly divided into the enucleation,implant and control groups,and each group including seven rabbits.Eyeball nucleation surgery was performed in the left eyes of 7 1-month-old rabbits,and a spherical orbital implant was inserted after enucleation of the left in matched rabbits in implant group.The left eye of normal rabbits served as controls.The rabbits were sacrificed in 1 month after surgery.The expression of TGF-β1 protein in the left orbital bone was detected using enzyme immunoassay and FITC labelling immunoassay technique in the sections of zygomatic bones.The content of TGF-β1 protein in the left orbital bone tissue was measured by ELISA method.This use of animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The height and width of orbital in enucleation group were significantly lower than those of implant and normal control groups(height:P=0.00,P=0.00;width:P =0.00,P=0.00).The positive bone cells of both enzyme immunoassay and FITC staining were increased in the implant and control groups in comparison with enucleation group,but the positive response intensity for TGF-β1 was resembled between implant group and control group.ELISA result revealed that the content of TGF-β1 protein in bone tissue was significantly lower in the enucleation group than in implant and control groups(P=0.00,P=0.00).The expression and content of TGF-β1 protein in bone tissue is similar between the implant group and the control group(P=0.41). Conclusion The experiment results indicate that TGF-β1 protein participate in the orbital development.TGF-β1 played important role in the prevention and treatment of enucleation-induced orbital malformation in the eye with placement of an orbital implant.