Hypothyroidism alone can lead to myocardial fibrosis and result in heart failure, but traditional hormone replacement therapy does not improve the fibrotic situation. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a new gas signaling molecule, possesses antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic capabilities. Whether H 2 S could improve hypothyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis are not yet studied. In our study, H 2 S could decrease collagen deposition in the myocardial tissue of rats caused by hypothyroidism. Furthermore, in hypothyroidism-induced rats, we found that H 2 S could enhance cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE), not cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), protein expressions. Finally, we noticed that H 2 S could elevate autophagy levels and inhibit the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signal transduction pathway. In conclusion, our experiments not only suggest that H 2 S could alleviate hypothyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis by activating autophagy and suppressing TGF-β1/ SMAD family member 2 (Smad 2) signal transduction pathway, but also show that it can be used as a complementary treatment to conventional hormone therapy.

Objective:To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in rats after myocardial infarction and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:Forty-three Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were divided into 4 groups according to the random number table method: a control group(n=12), a myocardial infarction group(MI group, n=13), an hydrogen sulfide(H 2S)group(n=6)and an MI+ H 2S group(n=12). The rat model of acute myocardial infarction was established by intraperitoneal injections of isoproterenol(50 mg/kg, once a day, for 2 days). Electrocardiogram and troponin changes were recorded 48 h after the last drug administration to determine whether the rat model was successfully constructed.After successful establishment of the model, rats in the MI group and the MI+ H 2S group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium hydrosulfide(56 μmol/kg, once a day, for 6 weeks).6 weeks later, echocardiogram and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to assess changes in cardiac function and collagen volume fraction in each group.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)was used to detect the myocardial apoptosis rate in each group, and Western-blot was used to detect protein expression of Yes-related protein 1(YAP1), WW domain containing transcriptional regulator1(TAZ), mammalian Ste20-like kinase 2(MST2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cysteine protease 3(caspase-3), the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP3)/matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 2(TIMP2), and B-cell lymphoma factor(Bcl-2). Results:Compared with the control group, myocardial collagen volume fraction was increased( P<0.05), the myocardial cell apoptosis rate was increased( P<0.05), and myocardial YAP1, TAZ, MST2, Bax, caspase-3 protein expression and MMP3/TIMP2 ratio were increased in the MI group(all P<0.05), while the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased( P<0.05). Compared with the MI group, collagen volume fraction and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate were significantly decreased in the MI+ H 2S group( P<0.05). Also, protein expression of YAP1(2.406±0.024 vs.2.830±0.063), TAZ(0.964±0.090 vs.1.329±0.018), MST2(0.780±0.082 vs.1.788±0.097), Bax(1.500±0.008 vs.0.613±0.003)and caspase-3(0.620±0.024 vs.0.780±0.012)and the MMP3/TIMP2 ratio were decreased(all P<0.05), while protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased( P<0.05)in myocardial tissue. Conclusions:H 2S can mitigate myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction, through inhibiting the activation of the YAP1/TAZ signaling pathway, thus reducing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.

The hydroponic culture test method was used to study the physiological and biochemical responses of Paulownia fortunei seedlings under Zn stress, Cd stress, and combined Zn and Cd stress as well as changes in the enrichment and transfer characteristics of heavy metals. Under single and combined heavy metal stress, the biomass, plant height, and peroxidase (POD) activity of P. fortunei decreased as the treatment concentration increased. Combined Zn and Cd affected adversely plant height and biomass. As the concentration of Zn increased when applied alone, the chlorophyll content and catalase (CAT) activity of P. fortunei first increased and then decreased, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, and the aboveground malondialdehyde (MDA) content first decreased and then increased. As the concentration of Cd increased when applied alone, chlorophyll content and CAT activity increased, and SOD activity and aboveground MDA content first increased and then decreased. Under both Cd and Zn, the physiological response was more complex. Cd in the seedlings of P. fortunei was concentrated in the root. In contrast, Zn was concentrated in the upper part of the ground, and its transfer coefficient was greater than 1.00. Thus, the addition of Zn promotes the transfer of heavy metals to the above-ground portions of plants. Generally, P. fortunei can effectively promote ecological restoration under complex forms of heavy metal pollution.
Cadmium ; Chlorophyll ; Metals, Heavy ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Seedlings ; Soil Pollutants ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Zinc

OBJECTIVE: : To study the feasibility and effect of PeriCam PSI system guiding the establishment of ischemia/reperfusion injury model in rats. METHODS: : A total of 70 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control group(=6), PSI monitoring group(=34) and traditional operation group(=30). Ischemia reperfusion model was established with reference to improve Zea-Longa line plug method. After the model established, the blood flow to the brain of control group, PSI monitoring group (ischemic 2 h, 24 h reperfusion) were observed and recorded respectively with PSI. The rats were then executed after 24 h, and the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and HE staining were used to observe the brain tissue. RESULTS: : The survival rate and modeling success rate of PSI monitoring group were higher than those of the traditional operation group(all <0.05). The blood perfusion in the brain and the distribution of blood vessels were clearly observed in the control group, and the data were normal. In 2 h ischemic group, the arterial flow was interrupted in the right cerebral artery, and the blood flow in the middle arterial blood supply was significantly decreased than that in the control group(<0.05). After the recovery of 24 h, the artery in the right side of the brain was restored to blood flow, but the blood flow in the partial supply area decreased, unable to recover to normal level. The TTC staining results indicated that there were obvious infarcts in the right brain tissue of PSI monitoring group,and the infarct area was more stable than that of the traditional operation group. The results of HE staining showed that the structure of brain tissue in the control group was normal, and the morphological rules of nerve cells were not change. While in brain tissue from PSI monitoring group, cortex and ischemia half dark stripe, nerve cell degeneration, necrosis and glial fiber disintegration, liquefaction, and light color, screen mesh in ischemic central area were observed. CONCLUSIONS : PSI system can guide ischemia reperfusion model building and improve the success rate of the model.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hemodynamics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; instrumentation ; Reperfusion Injury ; diagnostic imaging

Background Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is increasingly applied in the correction of myopia and astigmatism.However,the early clinical outcomes of SMILE for different refractive myopia and astigmatism is seldom reported.Objective This study was to investigate the safety,efficacy,predictability and early stability after SMILE in low,moderate and high myopia.Methods A series of cases-observational study was carried out.A total of 195 eyes of 108 myopic patients were enrolled in Tianjin Eye Hospital from May to December 2012 under the informed consent.The patients were divided into the low (≤-3.00 D),moderate (＞-3.00 to-6.00 D) and high myopia (＞-6.00 D) groups according to different diopters,with 57 eyes,76 eyes and 62 eyes,respectively.SMILE was performed on all the eyes.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA)(LogMAR),best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (LogMAR),equivalent sphere (SE),intraocular pressure,anterior segment and corneal topography were examined before operation and 1 day,1 week,1 month and 3 months after operation to evaluate the effective index (postoperative UCVA/preoperative BCVA),safety index (postoperative BCVA/preoperative BCVA),predictability and early stability of SMILE.The linear regression analysis was used to analyze the relationships between the attempted refraction and the achieved refraction postoperative 3 months in three groups.Results The percentage of UCVA (LogMAR)＜0.1 was 100％,97.1％ and 92.8％ in the low,moderate and high myopia group,respectively in 3 months after SMILE.The postoperative BCVA of all the operated eyes reached preoperative one.The residual SE was (-0.07±0.16),(-0.05 ±0.20) and (-0.08±0.27)D in the low,moderate and high myopia group,respectively in 3 months after SMILE.The percentage of residual SE±0.5 D was 100％,98.7％ and 93.6％ in the low,moderate and high group,and that of SE±1.0 D was 100％ in all of the groups.The postoperative corrected SE was gradually increased with the raise of predicted SE in the low,moderate and high myopia groups (r=0.942,0.959,0.957,all at P＜0.001).Conclusions SMILE is safe,effective,predictable and stable for the correction of low,moderate and high myopia.The corneal wound healing was slightly slower in the low myopia group than that in the moderate and high group.A slight regression of myopic power appears in high myopia eyes 3 months after SMILE.

Background The relationship between corneal central thickness (CCT) and corneal biomechanical property does not reflect the effective amount of ablated tissue because CCT measures only the change in a single point.Corneal volume (CV) is a representative parameter of corneal morphology,and it can fully reflect corneal thickness and tissue distribution.Objective This study was to investigate the correlation between volumetric corneal changes and corneal biomechanical properties after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).Methods A prospective series cases-observational study was carried out.This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to entering the cohort.Sixty-seven right eyes of 67 myopia or myopic astigmatism patients who received SMILE in Tianjin Eye Hospital from June 2014 to July 2015 were included in this study.Before and 3 months after surgery,the CV at 3,3-5,5-7 and 7-10 mm (CV3,CV3-5,CV5-7,CV7-10) was measured by Pentacam anterior segment analysis system,and corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were obtained by ocular response analyzer (ORA).The changes of CV (ACV),CH (ACH) and CRF (ACRF) were calculated,and the correlations between ACV and ACH or ACRF were analyzed.Results CV3,CV3-5 and CV5-7 values after SMILE were significantly lower than those before SMILE (t =36.24,20.38,16.17,all at P＜ 0.001).The CH values before and after SMILE were (10.06± 1.11) mmHg and (8.10± 1.05) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa),and the CRF values before and after SMILE were (10.40 ± 1.38) mmHg and (6.91 ± 1.19) mmHg,respectively,showing significant reduces after SMILE than before SMILE (t =16.71,27.41,both at P＜0.001).Positive correlations were seen between the CV values at different corneal areas and CH value or CRF value.Moderate positive correlations were found between CV3 and CH or CRF (r =0.571,0.569;both at P＜0.001) before surgery,and 3 months after surgery,a weak positive correlation was seen between ACV3 and ACH (r =0.394,P ＜ 0.001) or a moderate positive correlation between ACV3 and ACRF (r=0.501,P＜0.001).Conclusions The CV value is gradually increased from the central cornea to periphery cornea.The CV change is associated with CH and CRF changes after SMILE,and CV3 probably is a useful parameter for the evaluation of corneal biomechanics after refractive surgery.

Brain-computerinterface(BCI) is a kind of direct channel for information communication and control established between the human brain and computer or other electronic equipment.BCI is a novel information communication system which does not depend on the conventional brain information pathways.The asynchronous brain-computer interface technology is based on alpha wave control,and can automatically switch system mode between working and idle and select the larger EEG signal associated with motion imagination.In this paper,the basic knowledge of BCI and alpha wave-based asynchronous BCI technology were introduced.The key technology and application prospect of the novel alpha wave-based asynchronous BCI technology were summarized,and the status and existing problems were analyzed.

Objective To compare the outcome of adult-to-adult single kidney transplantation from donation after drain death and cardiac death. Methods The outcome of adult-to-adult single kidney transplantation from October 2012 to September 2015 in kidney transplantation center of Zhujiang Hospital was retrospectively analyzed. 53 recipients received donation from donors after brain death (DBD group) and 28 from cardiac death (DCD group). The deadline of follow-up is May 2016. Results During the period of observation, the mean follow-up was (17.26±10.85) months and patient's survival rate was 100%. When compared graft survival rate with the two groups, survival rate is 93.7% in DBD group and 92% in DCD group (χ2= 0.184,P = 0.668). There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05), the overall incidence of DGF was 28.4%. General DGF incidence is 28.4%, and DGF incidence between groups is χ2= 4.402,P = 0.036. Infection rate within 1 year is χ2= 4.507,P = 0.034, and the difference is significant (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in AR, eGFR of 1 month, proteinuria of 1 month after, transplantation and surgical complications. Conclusions Adult-to-adult single kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death (DCD) has a higher rate of incidence of DGF, and the postoperative infection rate within 1 year. Renal transplantation from donation after cardiac death could have a good outcome.

BACKGROUND:The rate of tuberculosis infection was high in patients after renal transplantation. Clinical manifestation is not typical, which brings inconvenience to diagnose.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the diagnosis and therapeutic methods of tuberculosis infection after al ograft renal transplantation.
METHODS:Relevant diagnosis and therapeutic method of 13 patients with tuberculosis infection after renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed in the Department of Organ Transplantation, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2010 to October 2013.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The onset time was 4-120 months after operation;62%(8/13) patients within 18 months after transplantation. Patients affected long-period fever, mainly low-grade fever. Four cases were identified according to the history, imaging data in combination with positive pathogenic diagnosis. Five cases were identified according to the history, imaging data combined with lung biopsy histopathology. The remaining four cases were identified according to the history, imaging data with experimental effective anti tuberculosis treatment. Early pulmonary symptom was not obvious. Chest CT was helpful in early diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Al patients fol owed early, law, ful , right amount, combined with principles of anti-tuberculosis treatment, and treatment usual y lasted for 6-10 months. They were given combined anti-tuberculosis infection drugs, adjustment of immunosuppressive agents and five-ester capsule for liver protection therapy. Thirteen patients were alive, no deaths. Two cases with early infection without timely treatment suffered from acute rejection, leading to loss of graft function and returned to hemodialysis. The others were cured and left hospital. Renal function was normal after 6-month fol ow-up (serum creatinine). Results indicated that after renal transplantation, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis should be early detected, early diagnosed and early treated. CT guided biopsy can be used as an effective and feasible means for diagnosis and identification of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis after renal transplantation. Adjustment of immune scheme, anti-tuberculosis treatment and five-ester capsule significantly reduced calcineurin inhibitor dose, and lessened their adverse reactions.

Tumor microenvironment has been confirmed to play an important role in the occurrence, invasion and metastasis of many kinds of tumors. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the primary type of host cells in the tumor microenvironment. CAFs have an assignable role in tumor development. CAFs create a suitable "soil" for tumor origination, secrete a large amount of growth factors promoting tumor growth and angiogenic factors promoting tumor angiogenesis. In addition, CAFs attract a large number of inflammatory cytokines, and secrete a great quantity of soluble products promoting tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Therefore, CAFs may become new targets for targeted cancer therapy, and provide new ideas for the clinical cancer comprehensive treatment.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Disease Progression ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; secretion ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology