Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Proteomics

OBJECTIVETo observe mainfestations of syndrome and biochemical indices of hypertensive model rats with excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (EAPDS), and to explore its possible pathological mechanism.

METHODSEAPDS rat model was prepared in 50 Wistar rats by feeding with high fat forage. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 10 Wistar rats was set up by feeding with normal forage. After 25-week continuous feeding, 22 rats with body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) exceeding 25% those of the control group were selected as a model group. BW, BP, blood lipids, and related serological indicators were detected in all rats. Morphological changes of target organs were observed. mRNA expression levels of leptin receptor (LepR), Janus kinase2 (Jak2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (Socs3), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K), serine threonine kinase (Akt), nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κBp65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α (IKKα), NF-kappa-B inhibitor β (lKKβ), NF-kappa-B inhibitor α (IKBα), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of AT1 and LepR in aorta were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BW, BP, and blood lipids increased; serum levels of leptin (Lep) , Ang II, Hcy, ET-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and p2-MG increased, but NO decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Aortal endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation occurred in the model group, accompanied with heart and renal injury. Compared with the control group, mRNA expression levels of LepR, Jak2, Stat3, Socs3, AT1 , PI3K, Akt, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IKBα, and AMPK in aorta were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05), while the expression of IKKa decreased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochem- ical staining showed, brownish yellow deposit of AT1 and LepR was obviously increased, with more extensively positive distribution. Western blot results showed, as compared with the control group, protein expression levels of AT1 and LepR obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModel rats exhibited typical syndromes of EAPDS. They put up weight with fat abdomen, gloomy hair, poor appetite, hypersomnia, lowered activities , reduced food intake, loose stool, dark red tongue, white tongue with white, thick, greasy fur. Lep could be taken as one of objective indicators for evaluating hypertension rat model with EAPDS.

Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; blood ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To compare the effects of biphasic square waveform (BSW) with low or high energy on external defibrillation.Method Adult swine model of closed chest ventricular fibrillation induced by electricity was established.Eighteen swine,weighing (30?3.3) kg were randomly divided into three groups:50-50-50 J group (n=6),30-50-75 J group (n=6),120-150-200 J (n=6).After three minutes of ventricular fibrillation without treatment,the pigs in the three groups were defibrillated accordance to the above sequences. Results 30 J BSW didn't succed to external defibrillate.The first defibrillation successful rate of 50 J and 120 J BSW was 5/6.The total defibrillation successful rate of every group was 100%.All pigs quickly had spontaneous circulation after defibrillation and survived more than 24 hours.ST-T change of low-energy was less than that of high-energy.After resuscitation,myocardial function decreased,but there had not significant differences between groups.Conclusions In the study,30J BSW could not reach successful defibrillation,and 50 J and 120 J BSW had similar defibrillation efficacy.The ideal energy of BSW external defibrillation was 50 J.

Aim To observe the antifibrotic effect of Radis Astragali and to explore the mechanism. Methods The fibrosis of animal model was induced with CCl4,and the model animals were treated with Radis Astragali in treatment group and saline in control group respectively. Results The serum hyaluronic acid (HA), fibrosis score and ICAM_1_positive hepatocytes all the decreased in the treatment group as compared to those in the control group.Conclusion Radis Astragali has satisfactory effect on experimental fibrosis. The mechanism may be correlated with its affection on ICAM_1 in liver tissue.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of vestibular compensation and to observe the changes of c-Fos and NADPH-d expressions in the brainstem of the vestibular deafferentation rats in static status or following angular acceleration stimulation.

METHODSTotally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into control group (labyrinthine intact), complete unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD) group, simultaneous complete bilateral vestibular deafferentation (BVD) group (n = 20 in each group). Subgroups (n = 10 in each subgroup) were set for static status or following angular acceleration stimulation in each group. Double labeling with histochemistry-immunohistochemistry was performed to observe c-Fos/NADPH-d neurons.

RESULTSNo positive c-Fos/NADPH-d expression was observed in the both sides of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and prepositus hypoglossi (PrH) of normal rats in static status and BVD rats whether following canal rotation or not. c-Fos/ NADPH-d expression was observed in the ipsilesional MVN and the contralesional PrH of UVD rats. However, c-Fos/NADPH-d were detected in both sides of MVN and PrH in UVD rats and normal rats following angular acceleration stimulation.

CONCLUSIONIn the ipsilesional MVN and the contralesional PrH, c-Fos plays an important role in vestibular compensation, in which nitric oxide acts as a key neurotransmitter.

Animals ; Brain Stem ; metabolism ; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo develop endolymphatic hydrops in both ears of guinea pigs by aldosterone.

METHODSThirty animals were divided into 3 groups with 10 in each group. Group A received left ears operation following Kimura', with right ears non-operated as control; group B received introperitonal injection of aldosterone (0.1 mg.0.1 kg-1.d-1) for continuous 5 days; group C received introperitonal injection of 0.5 ml 0.9% NS. Five out of group A,B and C were killed 1 month and 2 months later respectively for analysis of blood K+, Ca2+, Na+ and pathological examination of inner ear, heart, lung, brain, liver and kidney.

RESULTSIn group A' moderate to severe endolymphatic hydrops developed in the operated ears during 1 and 2 months. In group B, mild endolymphatic hydrops developed in the both ears during 1 month, and within 2 months it was moderate and severe. No endolymphatic hydrops developed in group C. In contrast to group C, No significant changes could be found in blood analysis of group A, but the concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ were declined, and that of Na+ were increased in group B. The heart, lung, brain, liver, and kidney of all animals were normal.

CONCLUSIONSAldosterone may induce endolymphatic hydrops in both ears.

Aldosterone ; Animals ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of lead in the expression of the renal fibrosis related nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and fibronectin (FN) in rat kidney and the possible molecule mechanism of lead induced renal fibrosis.

METHODSThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups. Group A was fed with distilled water as control group. Group B, C and D were fed with the water including 0.5% lead acetate continuously for 1, 2 or 3 months respectively. At the end of treatment, the expressions of renal NF-kappaB, TGF-beta and FN were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe immunohistochemistry analysis showed that expressions of NF-kappaB in group B, C and D (0.2315 +/- 0.0624, 0.3213 +/- 0.0740, 0.4729 +/- 0.0839 respectively) were continuously increased as compared with that in group A (0.1464 +/- 0.0624). The RT-PCR analysis showed that expressions of NF-kappaB in group B, C and D (0.4370 +/- 0.0841, 0.5465 +/- 0.0503, 0.6443 +/- 0.0538 respectively) were also increased as compared with that in group A (0.3608 +/- 0.0550). However, there was no change for TGF-beta in 4 groups except that it was increased markedly in group D (0.5225 +/- 0.0416) as compared with that in group A (0.4645 +/- 0.0461) by RT-PCR. The expressions of FN in group C and D (0.4243 +/- 0.0595 and 0.4917 +/- 0.0891 by immunohistochemistry; 0.8650 +/- 0.0880 and 0.8714 +/- 0.0980 by RT-PCR) were increased as compared with those in group A (0.3530 +/- 0.0490 by immunohistochemistry and 0.7432 +/- 0.0639 by RT-PCR).

CONCLUSIONThe lead can increase the expression of renal NF-kappaB, TGF-beta and FN in rats, which may be related to the lead induced renal fibrosis in rats.

Animals ; Fibronectins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Patients with early cataract may have normal visual acuity ( VA ) but complain that they have problems in driving at night, like seeing things through a veil. This phenomenon is defined as disability glare which maybe caused by growing stray light. Patients with intraocular lens following cataract surgery may complain about glare, halos and shadows in visual field, which are also resulted from dysphotopia. Disability glare is the VA loss due to disturbing luminance in visual field. ln other words, it's the retinal contrast sensitivity reduction because of the straylight. This article contains the consensus and new progress of disability glare. lt provides solutions according to its effect factors and offers clues for further study.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) in vestibular compensation after unilateral vestibular deafferentation.

METHODSEighteen animals were divided into two groups, 6 of group a as control, 12 of group b received gentamicin intratympanic injection in the left ear. Half of the animals were killed respectively after 5 days and 10 days. Vestibular endorgan and brainstem tissue sections were subjected to NADPH-d reactive test of NOS for histochemical examination.

RESULTSIn group a, NOS-like reactivity in both sides of vestibular endorgan and nucli. In group b during 5 days, NOS-like reactivity in right side of vestibular endorgan and nucli, those of the left side were negative. During 10 days, NOS-like reactivity only in the right side of vestibular endorgan.

CONCLUSIONSChanges of NOS expression in the contralateral vestibular nucli might have played a role in vestibular compensation.

Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Gentamicins ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Vestibular Nerve ; metabolism ; Vestibular Nuclei ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of related disorders, which could lead to potential otitis media by observing the abnormal configuration of drum and abnormal acoustic immittance without symptoms in preschool children.

METHODSEighty-one cases (162 ears) received flexible pharyngorhinoscopy, skin prick test, CT examination of sinus, and were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, adenoid hypertrophy. They had no complaints of ear related symptoms, but were observed to have abnormality in ear drum by physical examined. Acoustic immittance measurement were performed, so as to estimate whether they were accompany with potential otitis media. The changes of examination and tests were analyzed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSThere were 15 cases (29 ears) with abnormal acoustic admittance among 81 cases (162 ears) who had no ear related symptoms but had different degree abnormality in ear drum. The morbidity rate of these 15 patients was 13.6% (6/44 ears) in allergic rhinitis patients, 18.2% (12/66 ears) in chronic sinusitis patients, and 21.2% (11/52 ears) in adenoid hypertrophy patients, respectively. The differences among the three diseases had statistical significance (χ² = 63.02,P < 0.05). Among 29 ears, 28 ears whose type of tympanic pressure curve were transferred from type C to type A two weeks after treatment. One ear whose type of tympanic pressure curve transferred from type B to type C four weeks after treatment. All cases had been followed up with no recurrent cases.

CONCLUSIONSSome preschool children with nasal and nasopharyngeal disorders had abnormal configuration of drum and abnormal acoustic immittance, and had potential risk for otitis media. Among the disorders, adenoid hypertrophy impact more on middle ear function. The early intervention of related diseases could prevent the developing trend of otitis media.

Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Diseases ; physiopathology ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; etiology ; pathology ; Risk Factors ; Tympanic Membrane ; physiopathology