Early detection of sensory nerve function impairment in leprosy under field conditions

Aim: To assess the fine sensation of palms and soles in field conditions, to enable early detection of nerve function impairment before the loss of protective sensation, thus preventing the development of disability. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at seven tertiary referral hospitals located in different states in India. This study included all newly diagnosed patients affected by leprosy, who were registered during the period between March 2011 and April 2012. A detailed history was taken along with charting and voluntary muscle testing /sensory testing (VMT/ST) for the diagnosed patients. The sensation was measured using 0.2 gm Semmes-Weinstein filaments for palms and 4 gm for soles first, followed by 2 gm Semmes-Weinstein filaments for palms and 10 gm for soles. Results: Among the 374 patients, 106 were identified with sensory nerve function impairment. Of the 106 patients, 84 were identified with absence of both fine and protective sensation and 22 patients had a loss of fine touch sensation with protective sensation intact. Limitation: This study was conducted only among patients who were newly diagnosed with leprosy. Hence, future longitudinal studies in a larger population will add more validity to the study. Conclusion: The patients who had loss of fine sensation would have been missed by the normal leprosy programme protocol which uses 2 gm and 10 gm filaments for testing sensory loss before initiating steroid therapy. Further research is needed to determine whether testing for fine sensation with 0.2 gm Semmes-Weinstein filaments for palms and 4 gm for soles can be introduced at all specialized leprosy centres to detect nerve function impairment at an earlier stage followed by steroid therapy.

Super-sensitive bifunctional nanoprobe: Self-assembly of peptide-driven nanoparticles demonstrating tumor fluorescence imaging and therapy

The development of nanomedicine has recently achieved several breakthroughs in the field of cancer treatment; however, biocompatibility and targeted penetration of these nanomaterials remain as limitations, which lead to serious side effects and significantly narrow the scope of their application. The self-assembly of intermediate filaments with arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide (RGD-IFP) was triggered by the hydrophobic cationic molecule 7-amino actinomycin D (7-AAD) to synthesize a bifunctional nanoparticle that could serve as a fluorescent imaging probe to visualize tumor treatment. The designed RGD-IFP peptide possessed the ability to encapsulate 7-AAD molecules through the formation of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions by a one-step method. This fluorescent nanoprobe with RGD peptide could be targeted for delivery into tumor cells and released in acidic environments such as endosomes/lysosomes, ultimately inducing cytotoxicity by arresting tumor cell cycling with inserted DNA. It is noteworthy that the RGD-IFP/7-AAD nanoprobe tail-vein injection approach demonstrated not only high tumor-targeted imaging potential, but also potent antitumor therapeutic effects in vivo. The proposed strategy may be used in peptide-driven bifunctional nanoparticles for precise imaging and cancer therapy.

Development of small-molecule tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors for

Tropomyosin receptor kinase A, B and C (TRKA, TRKB and TRKC), which are well-known members of the cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, are encoded by the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1, 2 and 3 (

Expression and functions of long non-coding RNA actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the expression and clinical significance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its effect on the biobehavior of OSCC cells.@*METHODS@#Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 in the tumor tissue and matching adjacent normal tissue of OSCC patients (n=55), SCC25 cells, and normal oral keratinocyte lines (NOK) cells. The correlation between AFAP1-AS1 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of OSCC patients was analyzed. The relationship between AFAP1-AS1 and prognosis was also studied with the Kaplan-Meier method. AFAP1-AS1 siRNA was transfected into the SCC25 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Trans-well were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. The expression of the invasion-associated protein, AFAP1, and Rho GTPase family members, was detected by Western blot. In addition, the immunofluorescence of the cytoskeletal actin filament was observed.@*RESULTS@#The expression of AFAP1-AS1 was higher in the OSCC tissues than in the NOK cells, and the relative expression of AFAP1-AS1 was higher in the SCC25 cells than in the NOK cells (P<0.001). AFAP1-AS1 expression was associated with the degree of diffe-rentiation, TNM stage, lymphatic metastasis, and poor prognosis of OSCC (P<0.05). Patients with a high expression of AFAP1-AS1 had lower survival rates than those with a low expression of AFAP1-AS1 (P<0.05). After transfected by AFAP1-AS1 siRNA, the expression of AFAP1-AS1 was downregulated. The inhibition of AFAP1-AS1 expression consequently suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SCC25. Moreover, AFAP1-AS1 siRNA upregulated the expression levels of AFAP1, RhoA, Rac2, Rab10, RhoGDI, and Pfn1 but downregulated the expression of RhoC. Immunofluorescence showed that AFAP1-AS1 also reduced the formation of stress filaments in the cytoskeleton and affected the integrity of the actin fila-ment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The expression of AFAP1-AS1 was high in the OSCC tissues and SCC25 cells and is associated with the development and prognosis of OSCC. The knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 might inhibit the proliferation and invasion of OSCC cells by regulating the integrity of the actin filament.

Correlation between blood oxygen level dependent fMRI signal and GABA content in anterior cingulate cortex after acupuncture of Hegu (LI4) / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) signal and neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in the prefrontal cortex area after acupuncture or Von Frey filament stimulation (epidermal stimulation) at the right Hegu (LI4). METHODS: A total of 76 healthy volunteers (23 men and 53 women, 24.5±1.4 years in age) were recruited in the pre-sent study. Each volunteer received two sessions of fMRI magnetic resonance scanning (MRS) examinations, with an interval of one week between two sessions. The MRI scan sequences included pre-task MRS, resting state BOLD and task MRS, BOLD. A region of Interest (ROI) of 35 mm×30 mm×25 mm was located at the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex areas. In the two sessions of examinations, the right LI4 point was stimulated by manual acupuncture or Von Frey filament-pressing. The tasks were designed as the block design. Each block contained 3 intermittent acupoint stimulations, lasting 30 s in each stimulation and with two minutes' pause between two stimulations. The MRS data were processed by using Linear Combination (LC) Model software (for assessing GABA content), and the BOLD data of fMRI was analyzed by using SPM12 software (comparison within each group), REST1.8 (comparison between two groups), separately. RESULTS: Extensive deactivations were induced by both stimulations, mainly involving the midline regions as the medial prefrontal lobe, and limbic lobe. The deactivation effect of manual acupuncture stimulation was more extensive and intensive than that of Von Frey filament stimulation, especially in the medial prefrontal lobe. Data from 66 volunteers (after exclusion of 10 participants due to bigger standard deviation of GABA/Glx) showed no marked correlation between the GABA concentration and BOLD activation in the anterior cingulate cortex area in both groups(manual acupuncture stimulation group: r=－0.07, －0.08, 0.04; P=0.57, 0.88, 0.74; Von Frey filament epidermal stimulation group: r=－0.10, －0.09, －0.01; P=0.43, 0.46, 0.96). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of LI4 elicits a stronger and broader negative activation effect in the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network including the medial prefrontal cortex in comparison with Von Frey filament stimulation, but no apparent correlation was found between the GABA concentration and BOLD activation in the anterior cingulate cortex after manual acupuncture and Von Frey stimulation.

Gill morphology in two bottom feeder Mediterranean Sea fishes: Grey Gurnard Fish (Eutrigla gurnardus, Linnaeus, 1758) and Striped Red Mullet Fish (Mullus barbatus surmuletus, Linnaeus, 1758) by scanning electron microscopy / Morfología de las branquias en dos peces que se alimentan en el fondo del Mar Mediterráneo: Gurnard Grises (Eutrigla gurnardus, Linnaeus, 1758) y salmonete rojo rayado (Mullus barbatus surmuletus,Linnaeus, 1758) por microscopía electrónica de barrido

The purpose of the current investigation was to describe the gill morphology of two bottom feeders Mediterranean Sea fishes: Striped red mullet fish (M. surmuletus) and grey gurnard fish (E. gurnardus) that showed the same feeding habits. The gill system of the grey gurnard consisted of four pairs of gill arches while consisted of three pairs of gill arches in the striped red mullet. Our study focused on the scanning electron microscopical (SEM) features of the gills, where some differences in the gill arches and gill rakers surface in both species were observed. Our results marked that there was an interbranchial septum carrying a four transverse elevated crest in grey gurnard while in striped red mullet carrying a median longitudinal elevated crest. There are some similar structure on the gill arch of two fishes as; no angle between a ceratobranchial part and epibranchial part and also the gill arch has a region of many longitudinal microridges demarcated the region between gill rakers and gill filaments. By SEM, in striped red mullet, the smooth surface of gill arch and gill rakers was characterized by the presence of high number of taste buds. By SEM in grey gurnard, gill raker appeared as a round short projected body with high number of curved apex spines. Furthermore, in striped red mullet, gill raker appeared as short projected body with high number of rod-like spines. Gill filaments were long at middle and short at extremities of gill arch in both species.

El propósito de este trabajo fue describir la morfología de las branquias de dos peces que se alimentan en el fondo del mar Mediterráneo: Gurnard grises (E. gurnardus) y salmonete rojo rayado (M. surmuletus) los cuales mostraron los mismos hábitos alimenticios. El sistema de branquias del E. gurnardus gris consiste en cuatro pares de arcos branquiales, mientras que en el salmonete rayado son tres pares. El estudio se centró en la observación de las características de las branquias por microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB), donde se visualizaron algunas diferencias en ambas especies tanto en los arcos branquiales, como en la superficie de las ramas branquiales. Nuestros resultados marcaron la presencia de un septum interbranchial que presentaba cuatro crestas elevadas a nivel transversal en el E. gurnardus gris, mientras que el salmonete rayado presentaba una cresta elevada mediana longitudinal. Hay una estructura similar en el arco branquial de los dos tipos de peces, pero no hay ángulo entre una parte ceratobranquial y la parte epibranquial. Además, el arco branquial tiene una región de muchas microrredes longitudinales que delimitan la región entre las ramas branquiales y los filamentos branquiales. Por MEB, en el salmonete rayado, la superficie lisa del arco branquial y el de las ramas branquiales se caracterizaron por la presencia de un alto número de papilas gustativas. Por MEB en E. gurnardus gris, las branquias aparecieron como un cuerpo corto proyectado con un alto número de espinas de vértice curvo. Además, en el salmonete rojo rayado, el rastrillo de las branquias apareció como un cuerpo corto proyectado con un alto número de espinas tipo bastón. En ambas especies los filamentos branquiales eran largos en el centro y cortos en los extremos del arco branquial.

Association of polymorphisms in the filaggrin gene with the occurrence and clinical phenotypes of atopic dermatitis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the association of polymorphisms in the filaggrin (FLG)gene with the occurrence and clinical phenotypes of atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from 261 patients with AD,including the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and asthma,and the severity of AD.Mixed food allergen screening test and mixed inhaled allergen screening test were performed in a part of patients,so was the detection of total serum IgE and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP).Among the above AD patients and 276 healthy controls,17 polymorphic sites in exon 3 of the FLG gene,including R444G,T454A,P478S,H519N,D836D,S1482Y,A1805V,R1891Q,1961Q,S2166S,Y2194H,H2330H,D2339N,S2366T,E2398Q,K2444E and E2652D,were genotyped by overlapping PCR and DNA sequencing.Results Binary logistic regression analysis and chi-square test showed no correlations between the 17 polymorphic sites in the FLG gene and the occurrence of AD (all P ＞ 0.05).However,the H519N polymorphic site was associated with AD complicated by asthma (x2 =8.680,P =0.011),and the AA genotype of H519N could increase the risk of asthma in the AD patients (P =0.004,OR =1.061,95％ CI:1.016-1.109).The S2366T and K2444E polymorphic sites were associated with food sensitization in the AD patients (x2 =6.520,6.121,P =0.038,0.047,respectively),and the GG + CG genotype of S2366T (P =0.012,OR =1.396,95％ CI:1.054-1.849)and its G allele (P =0.037,OR =1.350,95％ CI:1.008-1.807) both could increase the risk of food sensitization in the AD patients.Similarly,the AA + GA genotype of K2444E (P =0.013,OR =1.393,95％ CI:1.049-1.850)and its G allele (P =0.028,OR =1.380,95％ CI:1.025-1.857) could increase the risk of food sensitization in the AD patients.Conclusions The FLG polymorphisms may be predisposing factors for some AD-related clinical phenotypes in Chinese Han population.The H519N gene may be associated with AD complicated by asthma,and the S2366T and K2444E genes may be related to food sensitization in AD patients.

Male function for ensuring pollination and reproductive success in Berberis lycium Royle: A novel mechanism.

In Berberis lycium anthers on alternate stamens dehisce, thus prolonging the male function so that pollination is affected and reproduction is ensured. The large pollen sac of each bithecous anther after the appearance of longitudinal dehiscence slit moves away from the filament while remaining attached at the tip of the connective and then orients in such a way that pollen-laden surface faces the stigma. No pollen is available to receptive stigma as pollen grains remain stuck to the anther sac. They do not get dispersed even by wind. Pollination and consequently reproduction is ensured through the intervention of insect, which does not affect pollen transfer to the stigma directly but by touching the base of the staminal filament while foraging nectar secreted by nectaries at the base of corolla, thus leading to staminal movement. This makes the dehisced anthers stick to the stigma and deposit pollen there.

Avaliação física e ultrassonográfica da cicatriz em 12 equinos submetidos à celiotomia mediana com fio de poliéster para tratamento de cólica / Physical and ultrasonographic assessment of scar from celiorrhaphy with polyester thread in horses undergoing treatment of acute abdominal colic / Evaluación física y ecografia de cicatriz en 12 equinos sometidos a celiotomia mediana con hilo de poliéster para tratamiento del cólico

Foi realizado um levantamento das complicações incisionais em 12 equinos submetidos à celiotomia mediana seguida de celiorrafia com fio de poliéster. Os animais foram submetidos a exame clínico e complementar. O exame clínico consistiu na inspeção e palpação da linha média. O método de exame complementar foi a ultrassonografia da linha media na área referente à cicatriz abdominal. Foram encontrados complicações incisionais em sete animais (58,3%). As complicações incisionais encontradas foram fibrose (41,6%), reação ao fio de sutura (41,6%), fístulas (16,6%), edema peri-incisional (25%), infecção incisional (16,6%), drenagem incisional (16,6%). No exame indireto foi observado edema pós-operatório, pequenas áreas focais de líquido ao redor do fio de sutura. Mesmo com as complicações incisionais encontradas e o número de animais examinados, o fio de poliéster mostrou-se resistente e seguro podendo ser utilizado na laparorrafia mediana em equinos.

A survey on the incisional complications in twelve horses submitted to median celiotomy followed with celiorrhaphy with polyester suture was performed. The animals were submitted to clinical and complementary examination. Inspection and palpation of the midline for clinical evaluation was performed. Ultrasonography of the abdominal scar of the midline area was used as an indirect test. Seven animals presented incisional complications (58.3%), such as fibrosis (41.6%), suture material reaction (41.6%), fistulas (16.6%), peri-incisional edema (25%), wound infection (16.6%), and incisional drainage (16.6%). In indirect evaluation, post-operative edema was observed, as well as small focal areas with fluid around the suture. Despite the incisional complications found and the small number of animals examined, it was concluded that polyester suture proved to be resilient and safe, and can be used in median celiorrhaphy in horses.

Una encuesta sobre las complicaciones incisionales en 12 equinos sujetados a una celiotomía mediana seguida de una celiorrafia con hilo de poliéster. Los animales fueron sometidos a exámenes clínicos y complementarios. El examen clínico incluyó la inspección y palpación de la línea mediana. Otro método evaluativo fue la ecografía de la línea media en la zona referente a la cicatriz abdominal. Complicaciones incisionales fueron encontradas en siete animales (58,3%). Las complicaciones incisionales encontradas fueron fibrosis (41,6%), reacción al hilo de sutura (41,6%), fístulas (16,6%), edema perincisional (25%), infecciones incisionales (16,6%) y drenaje incisional (16,6%). En el examen indirecto se ha observado edema postoperatorio, pequeñas áreas focales de líquido alrededor del hilo de sutura. A pesar de las complicaciones incisionales encontradas y el número de animales examinados, el hilo de poliéster demostró resistencia, seguridad y puede ser utilizado en celiorrafia mediana en equinos.

Actin filaments as the fast pathways for calcium ions involved in auditory processes.

We investigated the polyelectrolyte properties of actin filaments which are in interaction with myosin motors, basic participants in mechano-electrical transduction in the stereocilia of the inner ear. Here, we elaborated a model in which actin filaments play the role of guides or pathways for localized flow of calcium ions. It is well recognized that calcium ions are implicated in tuning of actin-myosin cross-bridge interaction, which controls the mechanical property of hair bundle. Actin filaments enable much more efficient delivery of calcium ions and faster mechanism for their distribution within the stereocilia. With this model we were able to semiquantitatively explain experimental evidences regarding the way of how calcium ions tune the mechanosensitivity of hair cells.

The study of correlation between high-risk types HPV load and expression of nestin in different cervical lesions / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate the association between high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) load and the expression of nestin in different cervical lesions.Methods The hybridization capture Ⅱ (HC-Ⅱ) assay was used to test the HR-HPV load from 60 patients who were the first time to do the cervical cancer screening in Xiangya Hospital,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of nestin in those biopsy tissue samples.Results (1) The lgHPV level (logarithm of HR-HPV load) in the high level lesion group was higher than the low level one (P ＜0.05),and HR-HPV load was positively associated with the degree of cervical lesions (rs =0.269,P =0.037).(2) The expression of nestin in A group was weaker than groups B and C (H =7.271,22.843,P ＜0.01),and the expression of nestin in C group was stronger than B group (H =7.270,P ＜0.01),and the expression of nestin was positively associated with the degree of cervical lesion (rs =0.646,P =0.000).(3) The HR-HPV load was positively associated with the expression of nestin (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The HR-HPV load and the expression of nestin are closely related to the cervical lesions,and the joint detection has a referential value for early prevention of cervical lesions and prediction of progress of cervical precancerous lesion.It might guide the early prevention and treatment of cervical cancers.

Expression of long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 in human digestive system cancer and its clinical significance / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the expressions of actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1), a long non-coding RNA (IncRNA) in four common human digestive system cancers including esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer, and their clinical significance. Methods: The expression of AFAP1-AS1 was preliminarily detected in several digestive system tumor tissues and their corresponding adjacent normal tissues from 82 cases by multi-tumor tissue microarrays. These 82 patients included 11 with esophageal cancer, 11 with gastric cancer, 26 with liver cancer, and 34 with colorectal cancer. The expression of AFAP1-AS1 which had significant difference in liver tumor tissues was further tested by in situ hybridization (additional 70 cases) and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (additional 30 cases). The relationship between the expression of AFAP1-AS1 and the clinicopathological features was analyzed. The role of AFAP1-AS1 in tumor lymph node metastasis was assessed. Results: The expression of AFAP1-AS1 in liver cancer was significantly lower than that in its corresponding adjacent normal liver tissue (P 0.05). Further test also revealed that the expression of AFAP1-AS1 was significantly down-regulated in liver cancer, and this effect was associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, coincidence rate, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of AFAP1-AS1 serving as a molecular marker of metastasis were 68.75%, 65.00%, 65.63%, 28.21% and 91.23%, respectively. Conclusion: The expression of AFAP1-AS1 may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of liver cancer and esophageal cancer, but this effect is different between these two cancer types. It is suggested that AFAP1-AS1 may become a noval molecular marker for clinical diagnosis of liver cancer. Copyright© 2014 by TUMOR.

The Difference in Filaments between Corneal Occlusion and Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

PURPOSE: To examine histopathological findings of filamentary keratitis due to corneal occlusion. METHODS: We analyzed filamentary keratitis in 11 eyes with corneal occlusion due to blepharospasm, ptosis and paralytic strabismus, 11 eyes with keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and 13 eyes with both corneal occlusion and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The following protocols were used for filament analyses: slit lamp examination for counting filament numbers, impression cytology for grading mucin content, and histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin staining) and immunohistochemistry (with AE1/AE3, MUC1, 5AC, 16) for histological analysis. RESULTS: Slit lamp biomicrosopy showed a significantly smaller number of filaments in the corneal occlusion group (11 eyes, 2.7 +/- 1.4) than the keratoconjunctivitis sicca group (11 eyes, 5.1 +/- 2.2, p = 0.009). In impression cytology, the standard photograph grade of mucin content was significantly higher in the corneal occlusion group (2.7 +/- 0.9) than the keratoconjunctivitis sicca group (1.9 +/- 0.8, p = 0.034). On pathological exam, filaments showed a central filament with peripheral mucin. The central filaments were composed of core and cortex, and the core contained multiple deformed nuclei. However, the cortex was not stained by AE1/AE3, MUC1, 5AC, 16. CONCLUSIONS: Filamentary keratitis due to corneal occlusion showed a smaller number of filaments and higher mucin content than filamentary keratitis induced by keratoconjunctivitis sicca and should be considered during treatment.

Subarachnoid block has no influence on neural differentiation potential of mononuclear cells in the cord blood / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Some scholars believe that anesthesia can improve the quality of cord blood separation and colection, and subarachnoid block is commonly used in cesarean section, but there is no research on the influence of subarachnoid block on differentiation potential of mononuclear cels into neural stem cels and astrocytes. OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of subarachnoid block on differentiation potential of mononuclear cels in the cord blood of neonates into neural stem cels and astrocytes. METHODS:Mononuclear cels isolated from 20 neonates delivered spontaneously and 20 neonates born by cesarean delivery undergoing subarachnoid block were culturedin vitro, acting as control group and study group. After delivery, cord blood samples were taken to isolate and culture mononuclear celsin vitro. After 3 days of routine culture, the cels were subject to non-induced culture and induced differentiation into neural stem cels. The cultured cels were identified by the cellmakers Nestin and glial fibrilary acidic protein with immunohistochemistry identification. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Nestin and glial fibrilary acidic protein showed no difference between the two groups after induced differentiation (P > 0.05), indicating subarachnoid block has no impact on the differentiation of mononuclear cels in the cord blood from neonates into neural stem cels and astrocytes.

One case of XG501A X-ray machine breakdown repair / 中国医学装备

It reports the E02 breakdown after XG501A program controller starting. The experiences and solutions of the E02 breakdown. According to the breakdown prompt, we carry on the analysis and the overhaul to the gastrointestinal filament preheating circuit. It is able to find the breakdown surely to be at, if you carried on the analysis search according to electric circuit's work flow. You must consider that comprehensive and gradually metrical data in the overhaul process. You cannot take for granted and only then may avoid detouring and equipment's damage.

Analysis and elimination of troubleshooting to hitachi electron microscope H-600 / 中国医学装备

Exchange maintenance methods of Hitachi electron microscope H-600 faults, master the workflow of vacuum system, and improve maintenance level together. Analyzed some cases of troubleshooting to Hitachi electron microscope H-600, collected troubleshooting skills, and gives related solutions.

The composition of filament in filamentary keratitis eye / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Eyes with filamentary keratitis present with serious clinical symptoms.This disease is easy to relapse and the treatment is tricky.At present,its pathogenesis is still unclear,and few works were done on filamentous composition.Objective This study was to analyze the composition of corneal filament by imageological and histopathological method,and discuss the formation mechanism of filamentary keratitis.Methods Eighty-eight eyes of 82 cases who suffered from filamentary keratitis were collected in Shandong Eye Hospital between January 2008 and January 2011.The etiologies of the patients were classified and the clinical data were recorded.Firstly,the corneal filiform strip was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM),and the corneal structure was examined by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT).Then the composition of filamentary strip was analyzed by Giemsa and Masson trichrome staining of stretched preparation of filiform strip.Results Etiological study showed that filamentary keratitis occurred after penetrating keratoplasty in 40 eyes,after cataract surgery and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in 18 eyes,dry eye and neural dystrophic corneal disease in 14 eyes,acute conjunctivitis in 10 eyes.HD-OCT revealed that filament lesion developed to Bowman layer.Filament was composed of epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and the high reflective strip core with spiral arrangement under the LSCM,and epithelial cells,inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue were seen in the strip core.Giemsa staining exhibited that filament contained corneal epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and dark blued strip core with helical arrangement.Masson trichrome discovered that the strip core was red fibrous tissue surrounding by blue mucus.Conclusions Epithelial cells,inflammatory cells,mucus and the high reflective strip core with spiral arrangement are the main elements of filament in filamentary keratitis.The lesion can reach Bowman layer.The results contribute to reveal the formation mechanism of corneal filament and assist treatment.

Influence of RhoA-Rock pathway inhibitor on the filamentous actin of hypoxia human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells / 中国小儿急救医学

ObjectiveTo explore the control factor of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in pulmonary hemorrhage with the RhoA-Rock pathway inhibitors.MethodsHuman pulmonary rnicrovascular endothelial cells were conventionally cultured,and were divided into four groups:control group,inhibitor group,hypoxia group and hypoxia group with inhibitor.As different fluorescein lsothiocyanate-phalloidin and filamentous actin (F-actin) in cytoplasm combined,it issued red fluorescence.We observed the dynamic changes of F-actin by laser scanning confocal microscope in hypoxia human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and recorded the value of fluorescence.ResultsThe mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin of hypoxia group in 1 h,12h and 24 h was (64.3 ±5.5)％,(60.3±4.2)％,and (47.8 ±4.6)％ as compared with the control group;the ratio of hypoxia group with inhibitor was (66.2 ±3.2)％,(67.1 ±6.2)％,and (72.5 ± 6.1 ) ％ as compared with the control group.The mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin decreased obviously after 1 h hypoxia treated to cells,decreasing to (64.3 ± 5.5 ) ％ of the control group (P ＜0.05 ) ;to 24 h,decreasing to (47.8 ±4.6) ％ of the control group(P ＜0.05).The mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin decreased to (66.2 ± 3.2) ％ of the control group after 1 h hypoxia treated in inhibitor group,which was more than 1 h in the hypoxic group.F-actin decreased obviously to (72.5 ± 6.1 ) ％ of the control group after 24 h hypoxia treated in inhibitor group.There was significant difference comparing with the hypoxia group after 24 h hypoxia(P ＜0.05).The mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin of inhibitor group without anoxic was invariant comparing with the control group(P ＞0.05).Cortex-like structure disappeared and the stress fibers arranged disorderly after hypoxia.Actin depolymedzated and broke gradually with the extension of hypoxia time.If to be hypoxic after pretreated with RhoA-Rock pathway inhibitor,cortex-like structure by the composition of pednuclear F-actin reappeared,distribution and arrangement of stress fibers in the cytoplasm tended to rule.ConclusionThe RhoA-Rock pathway mediates the damage on F-actin of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells after hypoxia.Interfering with the RhoA-Rock pathway inhibitors can provide a new direction for the treatment of neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage.

Expression of neuronal intermediate filament protein (NF-66) and relationship with benign and malignancy of insulinomas / 中华胰腺病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate whether neuronal intermediate filament protein(NF-66) could be used as a molecular marker for the determination of malignancy of insulinoma.MethodsThe expression of NF-66 protein was detected in insulinoma and pana - cancerous tissues and 3 insulinoma cell lines by immunohistochemistry staining. The relationship between the expression of NF-66 protein and the clinicopathological characteristics,survival was analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.ResultsExpression of NF-66 was found in 102(77％ ) out of 132 insulinomas and none of 98 paired control (P =4.86 × 10-31 ).NF-66 was highly expressed in 3 insulinoma cell lines.The expression of NF-66 was found in 96 (81％) out of 118 benign tumors (P =0.003),while out of 14 malignant insulinomas,6(43％ ) were found to express NF-66 ( P =0.003 ).The expression of NF-66 was significantly associated with tumor size (3 cm as the cut-off point),distant metastasis (38％ vs 81％,P =0.013) and distant plus lymph node metastasis (46％ vs 81％,P =0.009),respectively.The expression of NF-66 was not correlated with age,gender,recurrence and overall survival.ConclusionsDown-regulation of NF-66 was significantly associated with tumor malignancy,suggesting that NF-66 could be a potentially novel molecular bionarker to distinguish malignancy from benign insulinoma.

Rapid Disruption of Cellular Integrity of Zinc-treated Astroglia Is Regulated by p38 MAPK and Ca(2+)-dependent Mechanisms

Cultured cortical primary astroglia treated with zinc died while rapidly detached from culture plates, a distinct part of zinc-treated astroglia. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the rapid change in the morphologic integrity of zinc-treated astroglia. Among the early cellular events occurring in zinc-treated astroglia, strong activation of p38 MAPK and JNK was evident. Although inhibitors of p38 (SB203580 and SB202190) or JNK (SP600125) did not protect zinc-insulted astroglia from cell death, the p38 inhibitors, but not the JNK inhibitor, suppressed actin filament and cell morphology disruption. The Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, also suppressed actin filament and cell morphology disruption, but not cell death, of zinc-insulted astroglia. However, A23187 did not inhibit p38 MAPK activation in zinc-treated astroglia. Together these results suggest that zinc influx in astroglia results in rapid loss of the morphologic integrity via mechanisms regulated by p38 kinase and/or Ca2+ signaling.