Advances in corneal nerve regulation of ocular surface microenvironment / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The cornea is a transparent outer layer of the anterior eye segment, innervated by a high density of neural tissue. In the process of corneal innervation, trigeminal ganglion originated corneal nerves traverse different types of corneal cell in the epithelial and stromal layers. Corneal stromal cells, epithelial cells, immune cells, and other cells interact closely to maintain corneal microenvironmental homeostasis. In addition, corneal nerves is associated with the occurrence and development of many ocular surface diseases. Corneal nerves release various active peptides that regulate corneal sensation, maintain epithelial integrity and proliferation, improve wound healing, and manage local inflammation and immune response. This article reviews the advances in the corneal nerve regulation of the ocular surface microenvironment, providing some new ideas for the further study and treatment of corneal nerve-associated diseases.

Experimental study on the feasibility of low-dose cone beam computed tomography scanning / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#The effects of different tube currents and voltages on image quality and radiation dose were studied to provide a theoretical basis for low-dose cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning in children.@*METHODS@#Different tube currents and voltages were used to scan the incisor area of fresh Bama pig heads by CBCT. The radiation dose was recorded, and image quality was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#As the tube current or voltage decreased, the radiation dose and image quality gradually decreased. The computed tomographic dose index (CTDIvol) of 90 kV, 2.5 mA and 60 kV, 7.0 mA were all 1.7 mGy. The image quality score of the former was higher than that of the latter, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Low-dose CBCT scanning appears to be able to reduce the necessary tube current during imaging by improving image quality.

Clinical application of modified endoscopic thyroidectomy / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare clinical outcomes of endoscopic thyroidectomy via mammary areola approach and conventional via chest wall and breasts approach.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 480 cases undergoing endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid nodules between September 2002 and September 2012 were reviewed, including 280 cases via the chest wall and breasts approach between September 2002 and August 2009 and 190 cases via mammary areola approach between September 2002 and September 2012. The mean operation time, the location and diameter of the puncture pore, intraoperative bleeding volume, the mean hospital stay after surgery, postoperative pain score scaled by visual analog scores (VAS) were compared between groups. After 3-month follow-up, long term post-surgical complications, the recurrence rates of nodules and scar cosmetic satisfaction evaluation were also compared. Statistical methods including χ(2) test, Students' test and ANOVA analysis were applied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two groups were followed for 12 months. The differences between groups were statistically obvious in variables of diameters of the puncture pore (15.5 mm ± 4.9 mm vs. 20.6 mm ± 7.6 mm, t = 2.42, P = 0.046) , intraoperative bleeding volume (16.2 ml ± 4.5 ml vs. 30.5 ml ± 11.4 ml, t = 2.53, P = 0.032) , pain score on the first day after operation (1.5 ± 0.4) and (1.0 ± 0.2), (t = 4.68, P = 0.020) , scar cosmetic satisfaction evaluation 3 months after operation (χ(2) = 6.20, P < 0.05) , chest wall numbness (0 vs. 72.4%,χ(2) = 380, P = 0.000) . But there were no significant differences in the mean operation time, the mean hospital stay after surgery, and the recurrence rates of nodules between two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Minimally invasive endoscopic thyroidectomy via mammary areola approach is a safe and effective method for the surgery of thyroid nodules with good aesthetic outcome.</p>

Acute heat stress increases HSP70 expression in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens of adult male mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of acute heat stress on the expression patterns of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens of adult male mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two 8-week-old male mice were randomly divided into a control and 3 heat stress groups. After a week of pretreatment, the latter 3 groups were exposed to heat stress at (39 +/- 0.5) degrees C for 0.5, 1 and 3 hours, respectively, followed immediately by collection of the blood and determination of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) concentration. Sperm suspension was made from one epididymis for the detection of sperm concentration and abnormal acrosome rate, while the testis, epididymis and vas deferens on the other side were harvested for immunohistochemical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Heat stress induced different degrees of decrease in epididymis indexes and sperm concentration and a dramatic increase in GOT concentration (P < 0.01), but caused no significant changes in the body weight, testis indexes and abnormal acrosome rate in the mice (P > 0.05). There was a tendency of gradual descent in sperm concentration and ascent in abnormal acrosome rate with the increasing time of heat stress. The most decrease in body weight, testis indexes and epididymis indexes was observed in the 0.5 h group. Immunohistochemical results showed that HSP70 was expressed in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens, mildly in the Leydig cells of the testis and distributed in the nuclei of the Leydig cells, spermatoblasts and spermatocytes. In the epididymis, HSP70 was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of principal and ciliated cells, but not in the basal and clear cells, while in the vas deferens, it was observed mainly in the cytoplasm of the basal cells, but not in the principal cells. With the increase of heating time, the HSP70 expression was markedly elevated in the testis and epididymis, but not so obviously in the vas deferens.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute heat stress was harmful to the reproductive system of adult male mice. The region- and cell-specific patterns of HSP70 expressions in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens suggested that HSP70 might play an important role in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. The dramatic increase of HSP70 expression after heat stress might be responsible for the prevention of cells from high temperature.</p>

FoxO4 is the main forkhead transcriptional factor localized in the gastrointestinal tracts of pigs / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Forkhead box (Fox) proteins play critical roles in the regulation of differentiation, proliferation, immunity and aging of cells. Most studies on Fox proteins are limited to cultured cells and rodent. The aim of the current study is to detect by immunohistrochemistry whether FoxO1, FoxO3a and FoxO4 proteins are localized in the stomach and intestine of the pig. The results showed that FoxO4 exists in the mucosa in all parts of the stomach and intestine; FoxO3a exists mainly in the lamina propria and muscularis of some parts. However, FoxO1 is not detectable in all parts of the stomach and intestine. Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that there exists a distinct expression pattern of Fox proteins, and that FoxO4 is a primary forkhead transcriptional factor localized in the gastrointestinal tracts of the pig.

Oral acrylamide affects the development and reproductive performance of male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The content of acrylamide increases remarkably in fried, baked and heat-processed starchy foods. The present experiment was aimed at investigating the toxicity of acrylamide on the reproductive system in male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty weaned 21-day-old SD male rats were randomly allotted into three groups of 10 each. Group I and Group II were fed on water solutions containing acrylamide 5 mg/kg/d and 10 mg/kg/d for eight consecutive weeks, while the third group on fresh water only as the control. The body weight, viscera weights and testicle and epididymis tissues were detected at the fourth and eighth week respectively. In the end of the experiment, the sperm reserve and morphology in the cauda of the epididymis were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The growth of the rats treated with acrylamide was retarded (P < 0.05). The weights of the testis and epididymis and the sperm concentration in the cauda of the epididymis of Group II were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after acrylamide administration, while no significant change was observed in the sperm concentration of Group I (P > 0.05). Furthermore, histopathological lesions were presented in the testes of the treated rats, and the number of Leydig cells around the apoptosis seminiferous tubules increased significantly (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acrylamide has toxic effects on seminiferous tubules and decreases the production of sperm in male rats.</p>

Study on the characteristics of auditory verbal memory in mild cognitive impairment / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To analyze the characteristics of auditory verbal memory impairment in mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).Methods Auditory verbal memory test was performed in 72 patients with MCI,45 patients with mild AD,and 62 normal controls.Results Significant intergroup differences were found in total former five free recall and learning scores,The MCI subjects( 16.4?5.5,2.6?1.7)performed significantly more poorly than the normal control subjects(NC) (30.2?5.6,3.4?1.9),and mild AD categories (9.8?4.1,2.0?1.2) showed lower results than the MCI subjects(t=2.26,P

Boston Naming Test in Chinese Elderly, Patient with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Dementia / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective: To investigate applicability for Boston naming test (30 items) (BNT) in Chinese elderly and identify effect for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia(AD) using BNT. Methods:100 normal elderly, 38 amnesic MCI, 34 mild AD and 38 moderate AD were evaluated by neuropsychological tests (include BNT, mini mental state examination and auditory verbal memory test, etc). MMSE total score of 4 groups were 28.4?1.5, 26.1?2.6, 20.7?1.7, and 15.6?3.3, respectively. Results: Age, sex, level of education were found to be significant factors affecting overall scores of spontaneous naming in normal elderly group. Spontaneous naming score for participants of elementary, high school and college groups were 22.2?3.3, 25.5?2.5 and 26.3?1.8, respectively. Scoring of male participants higher than that of females. Spontaneous naming score of 4 groups were 24.9?3.0, 20.9?3.6, 18.7?4.0 and 15.7?4.2, respectively. As cut-off ≤22 score of spontaneous naming of BNT, the sensitivities for MCI, mild AD and moderate AD were 61%, 79% and 95% respectively; the specificities were all around 81%. Selective impairment of unfamiliar items occurred MCI and mild AD and hold of familiar item across diagnostic groups. Semantic cue naming and recognition ability by BNT showed there was progressive damage in AD patients, but less than that of spontaneous naming of BNT. Conclusion: The ability of naming is influenced by age, gender and educational level. Patients with MCI or mild AD have impairment in naming.