Regulation of androgen on singing behavior and song control system of songbirds / 生理学报

Androgen plays an important role in singing of songbirds. Recent studies have shown that androgen levels in vivo not only affect the external morphology of songbirds, but also affect their singing behavior. Androgens (including derivatives) affect singing behavior and singing system in many ways. Based mainly on the results from our research group in the zebra finch, this review summarizes the effects of androgen on singing behavior, excitability and synaptic transmission of projection neurons of singing system, and the interaction of androgen with other neurotransmitter receptors in the brain of songbirds.

Effects of androgens on the long-term depression of HVC-RA pathway in adult male zebra finches / 生理学报

Androgens can affect the singing behavior via regulating the song control system. In the present study, the effect of androgen on the synaptic plasticity of high vocal center (HVC)-robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) pathway was investigated through electrophysiological recording in vivo. We divided the adult male zebra finches into control, castration and castration plus testosterone implantation groups. The changes of long-term depression (LTD) and the paired-pulse facilitation in HVC-RA pathway induced by high-frequency (400 Hz, 2 s) stimulation of HVC were recorded, respectively. The results showed that high-frequency stimulation could effectively induce LTD in control group, but only evoke short-term depression in the castration group. In castration plus testosterone implantation group, LTD was restored. The paired-pulse facilitation was not obvious in the castration group, whereas it was significantly improved in the control and castration plus testosterone implantation groups. These results suggest that androgens may maintain the stability of song by influencing the level of LTD in HVC-RA pathway in adult male zebra finches, and androgens can affect the short-term synaptic plasticity of HVC-RA pathway.

Effect of human activities and air purifier on airborne microorganisms and particulate matter in a bronchoscopy room / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of personnel activities and air purifiers on airborne microorganisms and particulate matter in bronchoscopy room.Methods According to whether there was personal activity and air purifier in the bronchoscopy room,the experiment was divided into four groups:dynamic non-purification group,dynamic purification group,static non-purification group,and static purification group,indoor air samples were collected and analyzed at five different time points (0,0.5,1,2,4 h),microorganisms in the air were collected by planktonic method,then cultured and counted,concentration of particulate matter was determined by DT-9881M laser dust particle counter,variance analysis of factorial design was used for statistical analysis.Results Colony count/concentration of airborne bacteria,fungi,total microorganisms (bacteria + fungi),PM2.5,and PM2.5-10.0 in dynamic non purification group were (113.53 ± 7.78) CFU/m3,(89.67 ± 7.17) CFU/m3,(203.20 ± 10.92) CFU/m3,(86 557.20 ±4 158.29) counts/m3,and (659.69 ± 38.91) counts/m3 respectively,in static non-purification group were (84.33 ± 3.65) CFU/m3,(65.00 ± 2.65)CFU/m3,(149.33 ± 4.98) CFU/m3,(45 812.64 ±1 279.61) counts/m3,and (189.15 ± 4.64) counts/m3 respectively,in dynamic purification group were (84.80 ±8.08) CFU/m3,(90.40 ± 5.50) CFU/m3,(175.20 ± 9.22) CFU/m3,(49 336.38 ± 2 039.16) counts/m3,and (218.36 ± 7.02) counts/m3 respectively,in static purification group were (67.80 ± 5.63) CFU/m3,(38.27 ± 3.70)CFU/m3,(106.07 ± 6.76) CFU/m3,(29 772.53 ± 2 212.93) counts/m3,and (124.80 ± 7.16) counts/m3 respectively.Colony count/concentration of airborne bacteria,total microorganisms,PM2.5,and PM2.s 10.0 in dynamic group were all higher than those in static group,non-purification group were higher than purification group(both P ＜0.05),colony count of fungi in dynamic non-purification group was higher than static non-purification group,in static purification group was lower than static non-purification group(both P＜0.05),there was no significant difference between dynamic purification group and dynamic non-purification group (P =0.936).Conclusion Personal activities can increase colony count/concentration of microorganisms and particulate matter in bronchoscopy room,air purifier can reduce the bacteria,total microbial count,and particulate matter in the air of bronchoscopy room.

A comparative study of 25G+ versus 27G+ vitrectomy for the treatment of idiopathic macular hole / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To compare the clinical effects of 25G+ and 27G+ transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in treating idiopathic macular hole.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of 56 eyes (56 patients) with idiopathic macular hole which were treated with micro-incision vitrectomy from June 2015 to September 2016.Patients were divided into two groups, 28 patients (28 eyes) were treated with 25G+ vitrectomy and the rest (28 eyes) were treated with 27G+ vitrectomy.The operative time and intraoperative complications were recorded and patients were followed up for 3-6mo.During the follow up period, best correct vision acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, macular hole healing and postoperative complications were documented and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: BCVA in two groups were significantly improved after surgery(P<0.001) and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P=0.84).No serious complications occurred.No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in surgical time and healing rate of macular hole (P=0.57, 0.64).The incidence of low intraocular pressure (IOP<10mmHg) in 27G+ group was lower than that in 25G+ group on the first day after surgery(P=0.31).There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure at 1wk after operation in both groups (P=0.72, 0.92).CONCLUSION: Both 25G+ and 27G+ vitrectomy are safe and effective technique in treating idiopathic macular hole.Besides, 27G+ showed better superiority on the maintenance of intraocular pressure and reduce the trauma.

Design and verification of Luo-Ye pump-based stress formation for cultivation of tissue-engineered blood vessel / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve Luo-Ye pump-based stress-forming system and optimize the stimulating effect on smooth muscle cells during cultivation of tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A new Luo-Ye pump-based TEBV 3D culture system was developed by adding an air pump to the output of the bioreactor. A pressure guide wire was used to measure the stress at different points of the silicone tube inside the TEBV bio-reactor, and fitting curves of the stress changes over time was created using Origin 8.0 software. The TEBVs were constructed by seeding vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from human umbilical artery on polyglycolic acid (PGA) and cultured under dynamic conditions with 40 mmHg resistance (improved group), dynamic conditions without resistance (control group) or static condition (static group) for 4 weeks. The harvested TEBVs were then examined with HE staining, masson staining, α-SMA immunohistochemical staining, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy with semi-quantitative analysis of collagen content and α-SMA expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The measured stress values and the fitting curves showed that the stress stimuli from the Luo-Ye pump were enhanced by adding an air pump to the output of the bioreactor. Histological analysis revealed improved VSMC density, collagen content and α-SMA expression in the TEBVs constructed with the improved method as compared with those in the control and static groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adding an air pump to the Luo-Ye pump significantly enhances the stress stimulation in the TEBV 3-D culture system to promote the secretion function of VSMCs.</p>

Long-term plasticity of HVC-RA synapses in adult male zebra finches / 生理学报

Long-term synaptic plasticity is considered as a key part of the neural mechanism of learning and memory. The production of learned vocalization of male zebra finches is closely related to high vocal center (HVC)-robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) pathway. However, the long-term plasticity of HVC-RA synapses is unclear. This study investigated the long-term plasticity of HVC-RA synapses in adult male zebra finches through in vivo field potential recording. The results showed that physiologic stimulation, i.e., δ rhythmic stimulation and low frequency stimulation could not effectively induce long-term synaptic plasticity. The former leaded to no change of the amplitudes of evoked population spikes, and the latter induced short-term depression (STD) of the amplitudes of the second evoked population spikes caused by paired pulses. But high frequency stimulation induced long-term depression (LTD) of the amplitudes of evoked population spikes to show out long-term synaptic plasticity. These results suggest that LTD represents the long-term plasticity of HVC-RA synapses in adult male zebra finches, which may be a key part of the neural mechanism of vocal learning and memory and can explain the plasticity of adult song to some degree.

Factors associated with acute febrile reaction in elderly patients receiving intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To survey the incidence of acute febrile reaction in elderly patients receiving intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis and identify the related factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight elderly patients with osteoporosis were hospitalized and treated with intravenous infusion of 5 mg zoledronic acid in 2010. The incidence of acute fever reaction was observed in these patients , and the time of fever onset, duration, average maximum temperature, and antipyretic drug used were recorded. The patients with and without acute febrile reaction were compared for age, duration of osteoporosis, sex ratio, use of parathyroid hormone before zoledronic acid treatment, β-fragment of collagen breakdown, calcitonin, osteocalcin, serum calcium, and use of anti-osteoporosis drugs before the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acute fever reaction occurred in 12 (31.6%) of the patients. Two of the patients had fever on the day of zoledronic acid treatment, and the other patients developed fever after the first day of treatment, with a mean duration of 1 day and a maximum temperature of (38.5∓0.84) degrees celsius;. The fever was treated with a mean of 3.55∓1.21 pseudoephedrine tablets. The patients with fever showed significantly higher parathyroid hormone levels before treatment than those without fever (P<0.05); osteocalcin, calcitonin, β-fragment of collagen breakdown, or serum calcium showed no significant difference between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute febrile reaction, often moderate and transient, is common in elderly patients receiving intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis, and its occurrence is possibly associated with parathyroid hormone levels before the treatment.</p>

Induced differentiation and signaling factor PTEN expression of 3T3-L1 adipocytes / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To optimize the condition for inducing the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes and study the expression of PTEN tumor suppression gene in this process, aiming to understand the regulatory role of PTEN in normal adipocyte differentiation and collect laboratory evidence for developing drugs targeting PTEN.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes cultured in high-glucose DMEM were induced according to 2 protocols with different combinations of dexamethasone, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and insulin, and the resultant adipocytes were identified by oil red O staining. The total proteins of 3T3-L1 were extracted and analyzed by Western blotting, and PTEN homology between mice and human was analyzed by bioinformatic method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For optimized 3T3-L1 differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were initially induced with the combination of 1 micromol/L dexamethasone, 0.5 mmol/L IBMX and 5 microg/ml insulin for 48 h, followed by treatment with 5 microg/ml insulin in 4.5 g/L glucose DMEM for 48 h, which resulted in high differentiation rate of 3T3-L1 cells (up to 90% on the 10th day) with unified morphology and size. PTEN expression varied quantitatively in the process of differentiation, especially low on the 12th day as compared with those measured on days 4, 6 and 9. The mice PTEN mRNA shared 96% homology and PTEN amino acid 100% homology with their human counterparts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endogenous PTEN expression is down-regulated during 3T3-L1 differentiation, suggesting that PTEN may enhance insulin sensitivity and promote adipogenesis under physiological conditions.</p>

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism is not associated with bone mineral density of pre-menopausal women in Guangzhou / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism in pre-menopausal women in Guangzhou and study its relationship with bone mineral density(BMD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The genotypes of VDR gene in 193 per-menopausal women in Guangzhou were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward's triangle were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 193 subjects, 120 (66.2%) were identified as VDR bb genotype, 64 (33.2%) as Bb, and 9 (4.6%) as BB. The b allele frequencies reached 78.76%, and B allele frequencies was 21.24%. The distribution followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant difference was found in BMD among the subjects with different genotypes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VDR genotype is not related to BMD, and VDR polymorphism can not be used as a genetic marker for predicting the risk of osteoporosis in pre-menopausal women in Guangzhou.</p>

Chronotropic incompetence predicts angiographic severity in patients with coronary artery disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the chronotropic incompetence and angiographic severity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Coronary angiography was performed in 130 patients suspected for CAD and angiographic severity of coronary artery was quantitated by Duke score and Gensini score. Patients were divided to 4 groups: non-CAD group (39 patients), CAD group with one coronary artery involved (CHD1 group, 30 patients), CHD group with two coronary arteries involved (CHD2 group, 31 patients) and CAD group with three coronary arteries involved (CHD3 group, 30 patients). One month before coronary angiography, symptom-limited exercise treadmill tests were made and the ratio of heart rate reserve (HRR) and the percent maximal age-predicted heart rate achieved (rHR) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>rHR and HRR were significantly lower in CHD2 group (rHR 0.79+/-0.08, HRR 0.63+/-0.11) and CHD3 (rHR 0.78+/-0.07, HRR 0.59+/-0.12) than that in non-CHD group (rHR 0.89+/-0.06, HRR 0.80+/-0.10) and CHD1 group (rHR 0.86+/-0.08, HRR 0.74+/-0.15, all P<0.05). rHR and HRR also significantly correlated with Duke score (r=-0.554, -0.578, all P<0.01) and Gennisi score (r=-0.453, -0.467, all P<0.01). CHD incidence rate was 75% in patients with positive rHR (or HRR) but without ST lowering during exercise.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chronotropic incompetence are negatively related to angiographic coronary severities and thus predict angiographic coronary severities. There is a high CAD incidence in patients with positive rHR (or HRR) but no ST lowering during symptom-limited exercise treadmill tests.</p>

Relationship of collagen type I alpha 1 and alpha 2 gene polymorphisms with bone mineral density / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and alpha 2 (COL1A2) gene polymorphisms in Chinese and their relationship with bone mineral density.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totalling 628 residents of Han nationality in Guangzhou aged 53.4-15.9 (range 20-79) years were surveyed for COL1A1 and COL1A2 gene genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae, greater trochanter, femur neck and Ward's triangle was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>COL1A1 Sp1 polymorphism was not found in these subjects, and the genotype of all samples were type SS. COL1A2 genotyping revealed the distribution of EE genotype in 49.7%, Ee in 40.9% and ee in 9.4% of the subjects. The frequency distribution of EcoR1 alleles followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The mean bone mineral density did no significantly differ among these genotype groups (P>0.05 by analysis of variance).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>COL1A1 Sp1 binding site polymorphism is absent and COL1A2 EcoR1 site polymorphism is not associated with bone mineral density in Chinese of Han nationality.</p>

The electrophysiological properties of HVC-RA synaptic transmission in the adult zebra finch in vivo / 生理学报

The synaptic connection from high vocal center (HVC) to robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) is a pivotal part of vocal motor pathway in songbirds. Electrophysiological properties of HVC-RA synaptic transmission in adult male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) in vivo was investigated by using field potential recording method. Following electrical stimulation of HVC, the evoked field potentials recorded in RA were feeble. The results showed that the remarkable paired-pulse facilitation was induced by paired-pulse stimulation at HVC-RA synapses. The results also showed that the evoked field potentials were significantly decreased after a conditioning tetanic stimulation and finally recovered gradually within 15 min, which indicates tetanic stimulation-induced transient depression is present at HVC-RA synaptic transmission. These results suggest that properties of synaptic transmission in this pathway might play a role in controlling song production.