ObjectiveTo investigate the long term effect of different antihypertensive agents on renal hemodynamics with ultrasound Doppler.Methods52 essential hypertensive patients were divided into three groups according to the antihypertensive agent they took: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), calcium channel blocker (CCB) and β-adrenoceptor blocker (βB). The blood pressures of right upper arms were measured with mercury column blood pressure gauge using Korotkoff method. Renal hemodynamics were examined with ultrasound Doppler before and after treatment with agents. ResultsSystolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all patients were decreased significantly. An significant correlation was found between the deceases of blood pressure and the betterment of renal homodynamic parameters in ACEI and CCB groups, but not in βB group. ConclusionTo a degree, the betterment of renal hemodynamics is correlation with the reduction of systemic blood pressure and mechanism of action of antihypertensive agents.

OBJECTIVETo isolate exosomes from rabbit aqueous humor and to investigate their immunosuppression function.

METHODSAqueous humor was collected from 40 New Zealand rabbits and exosomes were isolated by fractional separation and ultracentrifugation methods; the morphology was studied with electron microscopy. The immunosuppressive-related proteins of exosomes were detected with Western blotting; their inhibitory effect on ConA-induced proliferation of T lymphocyte was estimation with CCK-8 cells proliferation assay.

RESULTSEight milliliters of aqueous humor were collected from 40 New Zealand rabbits and 200 μg exosomes was yielded. Under electron microscope, the exosomes had typical structure of lipid bi-layer with a diameter of 50-100 nm. The results of Western blotting showed that these exosomes expressed Hsp70, CD9 and Alix but not Grp94, presenting a typical exosomes protein profile. Moreover, exosomes expressed high level of TGF-β and significantly inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONImmunosuppressive exosomes can be isolated from rabbit aqueous humor, which may be involved in immunotolerance of the eye.

Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Exosomes ; immunology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Immune Tolerance ; Male ; Rabbits ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

Objective To investigate the expression of Th17/Th1cells in peripheral blood and its relationship with rapid virologic response (RVR) to the therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)combined with rib(a)ivirin (RBV) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).Methods Thirty one CHC patients treated with PEG-IFN combined with RBV were enrolled,and the demographic and clinical data including age,gender,body mass index (BMI),results of biochemical parameters in serum and the peripheral blood samples at baseline were collected. Eleven healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group.The RVR in 4th week were observed by prospective experimental research method. The ratio of CD3 +,CD8 -,IL-17 +,Th17 and CD3 +,CD8-,IFN-γ+,Th1in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected at baseline by flow cytometry.Results Compared to the healthy control group,the level of Th1cells was decreased and the level of Th17 cells was increased in patients with CHC.In non-RVR group of CHC,compared to the healthy control group,the level of Th1cells was decreased significantly,and the level of Th17 cells was increased significantly ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions There was Th1/Th17 subgroups imbalance in no-RVR CHC patients treated with PEG-IFN combined with RBV,the level of Th1cells was reduced,and the level of Th17 cells was increased.The high level of TH17 cells and low level of Th1cells at baseline may not be conducive to the RVR.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective mechanisms of the astragaloside against ischemia-reperfusion lung injury in rats.

METHODSIschemia-reperfusion lung injury was induced in SD rats. Astragalus armour glucoside was dissolved in 1% of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose at different concentrations (8, 6, and 3 mg/ml) was intragastrically administered in the rats at the dose of 1 ml/100 g. Cellular and subcellular structural changes in the lung tissue were observed at the end of the experiment using optical and transmission electron microscope, with the wet/dry ratio of the lung tissue and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity measured.

RESULTSThe wet/dry ratio and myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissue were significantly higher in the model group than in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), and were significantly lowered by the treatment with astragalus armour glucoside at different doses (P<0.01 or 0.05), and the effect was especially obvious in rats receiving a moderate dose. Pulmonary capillary expansion, erythrocyte leakage and exudate in the alveolar space with obvious pathological changes in the type I and II epithelial cells were observed in model group. Pulmonary capillary expansion was reduced in rats treated with high, medium and low dose of Astragalus armour glucoside, and the medium dose group showed the most obvious effect, in which no edema fluid in the alveolar space or erythrocyte leakage was found with also reduced type II lung epithelial cell degranulation.

CONCLUSIONAstragaloside has obvious antioxidant effect in rats with ischemia-reperfusion lung injury, and a medium dose produces the best effect.

Animals ; Female ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Cysts ; pathology ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss) in dental plaque of children with high dmft and no caries by selective medium, biochemical methods and arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR).

METHODSA total of 401 3-4-year-old children from seven kindergartens were recruited using cluster sampling and their dental caries status were examined. From 30% of children with the highest dmft score (dmft >/= 5), 20 children were chosen randomly as test group and 20 age and gender-matched caries-free children were selected as control. Plaque samples were collected from buccal surfaces of the molars and plated onto TYCSB plate. Sm and Ss were primarily identified by colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Then chromosomal DNA of the strains was isolated and Sm or Ss were confirmed by AP-PCR.

RESULTSThe proportion positive for Sm and Ss in children with high dmft was 100% and 40% respectively while that in caries-free children was 75% and 5% by AP-PCR analysis. The differences were statistically significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe proportions positive for Sm and Ss detected by AP-PCR method were significantly higher in children with high dmft than in caries-free children and it is a risk factor for high dmft in deciduous teeth harboring Sm and Ss.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Streptococcus mutans ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on the functions of the surviving myocardium and arteriosclerosis plaque in patients with ST-segment elevation after acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSSixty-five STEMI patients were randomized to receive 40 mg simvastatin (n=32) or 10 mg rosuvastatin (n=33) before sleep in addition to conventional medications. Before PCI and after the 12-month medications, the plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured, and echocardiography and (99)Tc(m)-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed to assess the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAt the end of 12 months, the patients in simvastatin group showed significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, CRP, TNF-α, and (99)Tc(m)-MIBI uptake fraction. In rosuvastatin group, these reductions were even more obvious; the intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was reduced significantly after a 12-month rosuvastatin therapy, but almost remained unchanged after simvastatin therapy.

CONCLUSIONRosuvastatin therapy in addition to conventional medications can significantly reduce IMT and improve the functions of the surviving myocardium in patients with STEMI after PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo compare the chronic changes between the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and the spine or the hip joints in conventional radiography of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and discuss the clinical staging of this disease.

METHODSAll images of the joints of the AS patients were evaluated twice in blinded manner by two doctors. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints and hip joints were separately evaluated by BASRI, and the results were averaged and analyzed. Definite involvement was defined as a score > or=2.

RESULTSThirty-seven AS patients (81.0% male with mean age of 28.49 years) were examined, and 81.0% of them had definite involvement of the spine and 40.5% of hip involvement. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was 0.459 between BASRI-SIJ and BASRI-s, and 0.465 between BASRI-SIJ and BASRI-h.

CONCLUSIONSeparately, the severity of SIJ changes can not represent the severity of changes in the spine and hip, etc, therefore SIJ changes may not be sufficient evidence for AS staging.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hip Joint ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spine ; pathology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; classification ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the nanoleakage and ultramorphology of four self-etching adhesives.

METHODSSixteen freshly extracted, caries-free human third molars were selected. A flat dentin surface was exposed by removing occlusal enamel. All teeth were randomly divided into four groups acorrding to four different self-etch adhesive: Adper Prompt (A), iBond (B), Xeno III (C) and SE Bond (D). The dentin were bonded with dentin adhesive system according to manufacturer's directions. Composite layers were built up incrementally. The specimens were sectioned longitudinally across the resin-dentin interface into 4.0 mm×0.9 mm sticks and then traced with ammoniacal silver solution. Epoxy resin-embedded sections were prepared for transmission electron microscope (TEM) to observe nanoleakage. The images were qualitatively compared by NIH software, and data was analyzed by SPSS.

RESULTSDifferent thickness of hybrid layer and adhesives layer were observed for each adhesive. The hybrid layer of A, C was thicker than that of B, D, and adhesive layer of D was thicker than the others. The extent of nanoleakage varied among different adhesives: A (45.02 ± 9.49), B (43.97 ± 8.55), C (27.02 ± 10.86), D (12.94 ± 2.07). D presented significantly less silver deposition than any of the others did (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe thickness of hybrid layer and adhesive layer vary among the four adhesives. The shape and extent of nanoleakage of each adhesive are also different. Two-step system shows less nanoleakage than one-step systems do.

Acid Etching, Dental ; Adhesives ; chemistry ; Dental Leakage ; pathology ; Dentin ; ultrastructure ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; chemistry ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molar, Third ; Resin Cements ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between postmortem interval (PMI) and the changes of electrical conductivity in vitreous humor in rabbits after death. METHODS: The changes of electrical conductivity in vitreous humor in rabbits were measured using the conductivity meter under 30 degrees C during 0-48 hours and 20 degrees C during 0-120 hours after death. RESULTS: Electrical conductivity in vitreous humor in rabbits increased gradually under 30 degrees C and 20 degrees C from 0 to 48 hours and from 0-120 hours after death. The formulae of the relationship between PMI and conductivity under 30 degrees C and 20 degrees C were obtained by statistical analysis and the correlation coefficients were 0.970 and 0.983 (both P < 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION The increase of electrical conductivity in vitreous humor in rabbits after death may be used as the relatively objective parameter for PMI estimation.
Animals ; Electric Conductivity ; Female ; Forensic Pathology ; Male ; Postmortem Changes ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Time Factors ; Vitreous Body/physiopathology*