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G-quadruplexes with different conformations often exhibit different binding abilities to proteins and play different physiological functions. It is of great significance to analyze the factors affecting the configuration of G-quadruplex to explore its physiological function. Different from DNA, RNA sequences have shown parallel G-quadruplex structures in previous reports. However, we found that the only RNA sequence, the 22-nt telomere RNA fragment (ORN-N, A
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Objective:To investigate the variations in ocular biometry and its influencing factors in adult Tibetans of Lhasa.Methods:A cross-sectional study was adopted.A total of 100 consecutive adult Tibetans (100 eyes) with cataract, who were treated in Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital from March 2017 to July 2017 were enrolled, including 51 males and 49 females, with an average age of (63.38±12.80) years.The subjects were divided into two groups, with 57 subjects (57 eyes) older than 60 years in the elder group and 43 subjects (43 eyes) younger than 60 years in the youth group.Corneal curvature, corneal astigmatism, anterior chamber depth and axial length of subjects were measured and compared with those of Beijing population which were used as standardized data of Han Chinese.The differences in ocular parameters associated with age and gender were analyzed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital (No.ME-TBHP-21-KJ-005).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any examination.Results:The mean corneal curvature, corneal astigmatism, anterior chamber depth and axial length of the 100 Tibetans were (43.68±1.62)D, 0.750 (0.375, 1.000)D, (3.05±0.41)mm, (23.07±0.86)mm, respectively.The axial length of Tibetan was shorter than that of Beijing Han people and the difference was significant ( t=2.65, P<0.01).Corneal astigmatism of the elder group was higher than that of youth group and the difference was significant ( t=2.11, P<0.05).There were no significant differences in corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length between the elder group and youth group (all at P>0.05).The anterior chamber depth and axial length of males were much longer than those of females, and the differences were significant ( t=2.71, 2.25; both at P<0.05). Conclusions:In adult Tibetan population, the axial length is short, and the anterior chamber is deep.The corneal astigmatism increases with age and there is a gender difference in axial length and anterior chamber depth.
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Objective::To clarify the inhibitory effect of essential oil from Alpinia zerumbet rhizome (EOFAZ) on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced transformation of macrophage into foam cell and explore its possible mechanism. Method::THP-1 monocyte was incubated with 100 μg·L-1 phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to grow into macrophage, experiment was divided into 4 groups as follows, control group, model group (80 mg·L-1 ox-LDL), EOFAZ at low dose (80 mg·L-1 ox-LDL+ 4 μg·L-1 EOFAZ)and EOFAZ at high dose (80 g·L-1 ox-LDL+ 20 μg·L-1 EOFAZ). Mathye thiazolye telrazliurn (MTT) method was employed to examine the influence of EOFAZ on macrophage viability. Western blot was used to analyze the expression level of cluster of differentiation 36(CD36) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1) protein in macrophage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect cholesteryl ester contents in macrophage. Oil red O staining was applied to determine the accumulation of lipids in macrophage. Result::EOFAZ showed non-toxic effect on macrophage. Compared to control group, macrophage in model group displayed higher level of cholesteryl ester and lipid droplet(P<0.01), as well as significant increasing of CD36 expression (P<0.01), but no effect on ABCA1 expression. EOFAZ notably reduced the contents of lipids and cholesteryl ester(P<0.01), down-regulated expression of CD36 and up-regulated expression of ABCA1 in macrophage in comparison with the model group(P<0.01), indicating that EOFAZ inhibited transformation of macrophage into foam cell. Conclusion::EOFAZ could inhibit ox-LDL-induced transformation of macrophage into foam cell, the underlying mechanism may involves its ability to increase CD36 expression and decrease ABCA1 expression in macrophage.
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Purpose: In order to explore the clinical effect in acupuncture treatment of vascular headache. Methods: 93 cases of vascular headache were randomly auocated into acupuncture group (n= 30), treated by puncturing Fengchi (GB 20), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the sick side, acupuncture plus needle-embedding group (n= 36), treated by basic acupuncture treatment plus needle-embedding method in Taiyang (Ex-HN 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) on the sick side, and control group (n = 27), treated with oral administration of 5 mg Sibelium,twice a day, for observation of the changes in the clinical symptoms before and after treatments in the patients of three groups. Results: After treatment, the clinical symptoms in the patients of three groups were relieved or disappeared. The recent therapeutic effect was better in acupuncture plus needle-embedding group than in the control group (P＜ 0.05), and there was no significant difference (P＞ 0.05) between the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group and acupuncture group and there was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) between acupuncture group and control group, either. The long-term therapeutic effect was better in the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group than in the control group (P＜ 0.01), in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group and acupuncture group. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment of vascular headache offers a better recent and long-term therapeutic effect, and acupuncture plus needle-embedding method is much better in the therapeutic effect.
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BACKGROUND: At present, researches have been proved that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in repairing neural regeneration after spinal cord injuries. Poor ability of neural regeneration is related to lack of microenvironment for neuronal growth at local injured site. Whether electro-acupuncture can protect nerve after spinal cord injuries through increasing NGF level in injured spinal cord or not is lack of experimental data on the view of molecule.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture on motor function, morphology of spinal cord and mRNA expression of NGF in rats with experimental spinal cord injuries through morphology and hybridization in situ.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study.SETTING: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University; Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian from January 1999 to February 2002. A total of 15 male SD rats weighing (260±9.52) g were randomly divided into sham operation group, injured control group and acupuncture group with 5 in each group.METHODS: Models of spinal cord injuries were established in injured control group and electro-acupuncture group, and rats in sham operation group were just treated with resection of lamina of vertebra. Two hours after operation, rats in electro-acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture at Daczhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4), L2 Jiaji (Ex-B2-L2)and Huantiao (GB30), alternatively. Then, G6805 electro-acupuncture apparatus was used with distant wave, 0.8 Hz, 0.3-0.6 mA, and slight shake on muscle was regarded as proper response. The electro-acupuncture was performed every 30 minutes a day for 30 days. Rats in injured control group and sham operation group were not treated with any way, and motor functions 2 hours and 30 days after operation were observed with modified Tarlov scale and Rivlin method. ① Modified Tarlov scale: Pamplegia and irresponsivity of lower limbs during electro-acupuncture were scored from 0 to 6 points. ② Modified Rivlin method: Tiltboard was consisted of two rectangular alloy boards which was connected to one end through hinge.Board turned around axis at the beginning of horizontal position (0°) and the angle of ram could be measured. Rats faced towards front were put vertically as longitudinal axis of body to longitudinal axis of tiltboard.Angle was increased gradually when rats were not able to keep the primary position for 5 seconds, and the critical angle was recorded. Hybridization in situ assay: Amount of positive NGF cells was recorded under light microscope and photographs were completed at the same time.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scale of motor function (modified Tarlov score), critical angle of ram test (modified Rivlin method) and changes of amount of positive NGF mRNA cells in rats with spinal cord injuries.RESULTS: A total of 15 experimental rats were involved in the final analysis. ① Two hours after spinal cord injuries of rats in injured control group and electro-acupuncture group, score of motor function and critical angle of ram which was measured with modified Rivlin method were decreased remarkably; 30 days later, score of motor function measured with modified Tarlov scale and critical angle of ram were increased at various degrees, especially those in electro-acupuncture group were increased remarkably, and there was significant difference from those in injured control group [35.40±6.62, 27.80±1.10; (35.40±6.62)°, (27.80±1.10)°, P ＜ 0.05]. ② Thirty days after injury, pathological lesion of rats in electroacupuncture group was milder than that in injured control group, and morphological injury of spinal cord and amount of positive NGF mRNA cells were obvious as compared with those in injured control group (28.13±1.64,12.63±1.41, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture can improve mRNA expression of NGF in spinal cord, relieve morphological injury of spinal cord, accelerate recovery of motor function of rats with spinal cord injuries, and protect nerve through mRNA expression of NGF.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a simple rapid and sensitive nested RT-PCR method for detection of SARS coronavirus RNA by designing the specific primers for SARS and optimizing the parameters for PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primers and fluorescent probes were designed according to the sequences of SARS coronavirus genes available from GenBank. The optimization of the parameters for PCR was performed in PE 7700 thermal cycle. The 36 serum samples and 40 mouthwash of SARS patients and 80 samples of healthy people were tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of patient serum and mouthwash was 33.6%, (12/36) and 67.5%, (27/40), respectively, while the positive rate of healthy people was zero (0/160).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The simple nested RT-PCR method was a rapid, efficient and sensitive one for SARS early diagnosis.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Bodily Secretions , Virology , DNA Primers , RNA, Viral , Blood , Genetics , Reproducibility of Results , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Methods , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , Genetics , Sensitivity and Specificity , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , Blood , Diagnosis , VirologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for detection of coxsackie B virus type 1-6 by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A pair of primers were designed to amplify all types of coxsackie B virus 1-6 efficiently. The PCR product was hybridized in micro-wells in which 6 type specific oligonucleotide probes had been coated respectively, colorimetric detection was performed to discriminate the types of coxsackie B virus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>This method was shown to be concordant with the IgM ELISA, 71.7% of anti-coxsackie B positive cases could be detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The RT-PCR method can type coxsackie B virus efficiently and provides a tool for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigation.</p>