Objective To study the membrane properties of rat retinal ganglion cells during postnatal development, including the passive membrane properties and the action potentials evoked by depolarizing current injections and the relationship between the membrane properties and ages. Methods Whole cell patch clamp recordings of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in retinal slices of postnatal rats (age ranging from postnatal days 7 to 30) were performed. Results (1) A total of 112 RGCs were recorded from postnatal rats. (2) The electrophysiological properties of RGCs changed significantly during development. The excitability of RGCs increased in an age-dependent manner. There was significant difference between before-eye-opening group(P7-13d) and after-eye-opening group(P14-30d) . (3) Three different discharge patterns of RGCs in response to sustained depolarizing current pulses were recorded: single-spike firing, transient firing and sustained firing. During development, retinal ganglion cells of rats exhibited pronounced changes in the discharge patterns(P

Objective To investigate the electrophysiological properties of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) in Long Evans rats during different postnatal developmental stages so as to explore the intracellular mechanism of retinal neuron maturation. Methods Whole cell patch clamp recordings of RGCs in acute retinal slices of Long Evans rats (postnatal days 3 to 31) were performed. Depolarizing current pulses of different densities were inflicted on RGCs to evoke action potentials(AP) . Results A total of 94 RGCs, single spike cells, transient and sustained cells, were acquired in 33 rats. The proportion of the three types of TGCs was different. There was significant difference in electrophysiological properties. Conclusion During the period of postnatal development, gradually matured electrophysiological properties of RGCs and differences in amplitudes and frequencies of AP suggest that different types of RGCs may play different roles in coding and transmitting spatial and temporal information.

BACKGROUND:Skin grafting is crucial for patients with deep burns, but limited source of autologous skin grafts is an existing difficulty.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of xenogeneic (porcine) acelular dermal matrix in the treatment of deep burn wounds and the feasibility of its application.
METHODS:Forty-one patients with deep burn were divided into two groups according to the intention of the patients, 21 cases in control group and 20 cases in observational group, folowed by autologous split-thickness skin grafting alone or combined with different (porcine) acelular dermal matrix, respectively. After 12 months of folow-up, the graft success rate at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks and skin graft contraction rate and wound repair at postoperative 3, 6, 9, 12 months were observed and compared between two groups. Moreover, levels of inflammatory factors were detected and compared between two groups at postoperative 1, 2, 3 months.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The skin graft success rates showed no difference between two groups at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks (P > 0.05). The skin graft contraction rates also showed no difference between two groups at postoperative 3, 6, 9, 12 months (P > 0.05). After 12 months of folow-up, no serious scar hyperplasia, but soft texture appeared in the control group. In the observational group, three cases presented with local pigmentation at the early stage, but it gradualy subsided with time; no obvious scar, but only smal, point-like scar, was visible, and the repaired wound exhibited soft touch. No adverse events and death occurred in both two groups. Experimental results show that the treatment of deep burns with autologous split-thickness skin grafting combined with xenogeneic (porcine) acelular dermal matrix is safe and effective, which can improve the quality of wound healing.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological features of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Methods The pathological and clinical data of 9 cases of small cell carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively. There were 6 males and 3 females, ages 45 to 79 years (mean age, 62 years). Clinical manifestations of 7 cases included gross hematuria and dysuria, the other 2 cases experienced lower abdominal pain. The mean tumor size was 2.0 cm (ranged, 0.5 to 7.0 cm). Two cases had multiple tumors and 5 cases had single tumors. The growth pattern in 2 cases was diffuse growth in the whole bladder. In 4 cases tumor cells were found in urine cytology. All 9 patients underwent surgical treatment, including TURBt. Four patients were diagnosed as superficial tumors before operation. All the patients underwent regular theprubicine irrigation in the bladder. One case underwent additional intravenous chemotherapy for 3 cycles. Partial cystectomy was performed in 2 cases, with regular theprubicine irrigation in bladder and 1 case underwent intravenous chemotherapy for 2 cycles. Radical cystectomy was performed in 3 cases, with 2 cases undergoing intravenous chemotherapy after operation. Results Pathological findings showed that tumor cells were small and round in shape. These hyperchromatic nuclei showed limited cytoplasm with lack of nesting characters. CgA and NSE were positive in immunohistochemistry. The final diagnosis was small cell carcinoma, with 1 case accompanied with transitional cell carcinoma and 1 case accompanied with prostate cancer. One case showed high preoperative serum calcium (3.15 mmol/L) and low serum phosphate (0.61 mmol/L), which returned to normal 1 month after operation. Four cases who′s bladder was preserved were followed up, 3 cases were alive for 4, 9 and 25 months after operation. The 1 case who underwent intravenous chemotherapy was followed up for 24 months and there was no sign of relapse or metastasis. In all the 3 cases with radical cystectomy, 2 cases died 2 and 28 months postoperativly. Another case with adjuvant chemotherapy was followed up for 24 months without recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is highly malignant with poor prognosis. Radical cystectomy in combination with systemic chemotherapy has better efficacy. Retained bladder surgery with systemic chemotherapy is an alternative choice. The most important factors which influence the prognosis of the tumor are clinical stage and therapeutic methods.

Objective To explore the clinical and histopathological features of metanephric adenoma (MA). MethodsClinical and pathological data of 10 cases of MA were analyzed retrospectively.There were 4 males and 6 females,aged from 33 to 65 years,with an average of 45 years.2 patients had flank pain,4 patients had gross hematuria,and 4 patients were found by physical examination.The average diameter of tumor was 4.5 cm (2.5 - 8.0 cm).All patients were diagnosed as renal tumor by CT scan.9 patients underwent radical nephrectomy and 1 patient underwent partial nephrectomy. Results Pathological examination found that the tumors are composed of densely packed small uniform cells with regular nuclei that formed a tubular or adenoid pattern.Mitotic figures were absent or rare.4 patients were diagnosed as MA,2 cases were diagnosed as low-grade malignant MA,and 4 cases were diagnosed as MA with malignant component (2 cases of adenocarcinoma,1 case of chromophobe cell carcinoma,and 1 case of well differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma),7 cases were followed up for 22 months ( 10 to 34 months) without recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions MA is very rare benign renal tumor originating from epithelium,and a few are malignant,and some may contain malignant ingredients.Nephron-sparing surgery and radical nephrectomy are eligible for the treatment of MA.Considering the uncertainty of the biological behavior and cellular origin of MA,a long-term follow-up is necessary.

ObjectiveTo discuss the characters and management of renal lymphangiectasia.MethodsThe clinical data of two cases of renal lymphangiectasia were reviewed. The first patient was a 37-year-old woman with the chief complaint of lumbago in the right flank for 8 days.B-ultrasound showed mixed echo in perinephric space. On CT, similar appearances of fluid collections were seen, but not conspicuous. Conservative treatment was taken for three weeks and the symptoms were relieved. Three month later the patient had right lumbago relapse. CT scan revealed a large amount of fluid collection under the capsule of the right kidney. Percutaneous drainage was carried out. Two months later B-ultrasound showed fluid collection in perinephric space and percutaneous drainage again the fluid was sent to pathology. The second case was a 32-year-old woman with the chief complaint of lumbago in the left flank for the past three years. Ultrasonography revealed hyperechoic surrounding the left kidney. CT scan showed a left perinephric collection of fluid attenuation and circumferentially draping around the kidney. Renal lymphangioma was diagnosed and the patient underwent surgery.ResultsNeedle aspiration of the perinephric fluid was carried out, and laboratory analysis showed most leucocytes were lymphocytes. The pathologic diagnosis of the first case was renal lymphangiectasia. There was no recurrence during follow - up of two months. The second case was diagnosed renal lymphangioma pathologically. Follow - up for nine years, revealed no relapse.ConclusionsUltrasonography and CT contributed to the diagnosis of renal lymphangiectasia. Needle aspiration bioposy and histology could confirm it. Treatment of asymptomatic cases is not required. When collections are very large and cause symptoms, percutaneous drainage may be carried out however there is a risk of relapse.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of the calvarial cavernous hemangioma and the surgical efficacy to improve diagnosis and treatment of the calvarial cavernous hemangioma.Methods The clinical information,imaging materials and surgical efficacy from ten cases of calvarial cavernous hemangioma confirmed by pathology and the related literature was reviewed.Results The lesion was located in frontal bone in eight cases,in parietal bone in one case and in occipital bone in one case.The lesions were round-shape hypodensity with clear margin in X-ray.The lesions were hyperdensity or slightly hyperdensity on CT scan,and were osteolytic lesions with a characteristic honeycomb or starburst pattern on bone window.The MRI features were complicated and variable.The lesions were heterogenous and unevenly enhanced signal intensity.Nine patients underwent radical resections and reconstructed immediately by titanium mesh.The patient with tumor in occipital bone underwent radical resection only.Macroscopically,the pathologic bone was a huge purple-red blush mass protruding from the skull surface.Histological examination revealed the diploe with large,thin-walled,dilated blood-filled spaces lined by flattened endothelial cells without evidence of malignancy.No recurrence was noted in any case during a follow-up period from 3 to 24 months.All the patients survived well without recurrence.Conclusions The imaging features of calvarial cavernous hemangioma have a high value in the diagnosis and may provide guidance for the treatment.The radical resection and immediate reconstruction treatment for calvarial cavernous hemangioma is satisfied.

Oxalic acid (OA) is inhibitory to many fungal plant pathogens. To further characterize the molecular mechanism of OA involved in fungal pathogenesis, OA insensitive mutants were screened from a chemical inducible Arabidopsis mutant library (about 6000 lines) using MS medium (calcium free) containing 1.2 mmol/L OA and 10 micromol/L estradiol. Harvested putative mutants were collected separately. Individual lines of mutants were screened again on modified MS medium containing OA. Mutants D33, D74, D154, D282 and D630 with enhanced OA resistance were obtained. The T-DNA flanking sequences were amplified by TAIL-PCR. The sequences were blasted against TAIR database. The result indicated that the T-DNA of mutant D33 was inserted between At2g39720 (zinc finger) and At2g39730 (Rubisco activase), and the T-DNA junctions of the other four mutants were the same, all inserted in the same site of the first intron of At5g10450 (14-3-3 protein GF14 lambda).
Arabidopsis ; genetics ; growth & development ; Culture Techniques ; Drug Tolerance ; genetics ; Mutation ; Oxalic Acid ; pharmacology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics

Objective To retrospectively evaluate and analyze the clinical effect of posterior pedicle subtraction osteotomy in treating chronic, posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis. Methods Nineteen patients (11 males and 8 females) with chronic, posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis were corrected surgically. The patients were at age range of 29-61 years (mean 42 years). Preoperative kyphosis Cobb angle ranged from 31° to 63° (mean 47°) and trauma history ranged from 8 months to 63 months (mean 29 months). All patients were treated with pedicle subtraction osteotomy according to the size of Cobb angle, extent of spinal stenosis and source of compression. Results Sagittal alignment was improved to average 40.2°, with a correction rate of 85.8%. Two patients developed postoperative leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Among them, one was combined with encephalic infection and cured with active treatment, and the other developed postoperative wound infection, which were treated conservatively with antibiotics and local wound care. There were no other severe complications. The average follow-up period was 15 months (range 6-41 months). At the last follow-up, clinical symptoms and neurological function were improved significantly. Neither loss of correction nor failure of internal fixators was observed. X-ray and dynamic X-ray films showed a 100% fusion in all patients. Conclusions The single-stage posterior pedicle subtraction osteotomy is a safe and effective procedure for correction of posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis. It is possible and safe to obtain a correction within 55° on single segment by this technique.

OBJECTIVETo study gene expression of collagen types IX and X in human lumbar intervertebral discs during aging and degeneration and to explore the role of collagen types IX and X in disc degeneration.

METHODSFetal, adult and pathologic specimens were subjected to in situ hybridization with cDNA probes to investigate mRNA-expressions of types IX and X collagen gene.

RESULTSIn fetal intervertebral discs, positive mRNA hybridization signals of type IX collagen were concentrated in the nucleus pulposus and the inner layer of anulus fibrosus. Interstitial matrix of the nucleus pulposus also showed positive type X collagen staining. Positive mRNA hybridization signals of types IX and X were not detected in the middle and outer layers of anulus fibrosus. In adult specimens, expression of type IX collagen mRNA was markedly decreased. No hybridization signals of type X collagen was observed. As for pathological specimens, there was no gene expression of type IX collagen. In severe degenerated discs from adults, there were focal positive expressions of type X collagen.

CONCLUSIONSObvious changes of collagen gene expression occur with aging. Expression of type IX collagen decreases in adult and pathological discs. Results of type X collagen expression suggest that type X collagen is expressed only in older adult and senile discs (i.e., when disc degeneration has already reached a terminal stage), indicating the terminal stage of degeneration.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Collagen Type IX ; metabolism ; Collagen Type X ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Intervertebral Disc ; embryology ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male