[The protective effects on the function and structure of retinae in diabetic rats by intravitreal injection of cyclosporin A].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the electrophysiological and morphological changes of retinae after intravitreal injection of cyclosporin A (CsA) in experimental diabetic rats. METHODS: Experimental study. SD diabetic mellitus (DM) rat models were induced with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats were divided into four groups, with 9 rats in each group:the normal control (group CON), the diabetic rats with or without CsA intravitreal injection respectively (group DM + CsA and group DM), and the diabetic rats with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) intravitreal injection (group DM + DMSO). The intravitreal injection of CsA or contrast solution was performed 4 weeks after the modeling. The retinal function of rats was examined by electroretinogram (ERG) 48 hours after the intravitreal injection. All rats were sacrificed and the structural changes of retina were observed by optical and transmission electron microscope. The datas of ERG including amplitudes and latencies of a-wave and b-wave were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test. RESULTS: There was difference in ERG b-wave among the 4 groups under different stimuli light intensity (F = 14.760 - 28.890, all P value < 0.01). And there was difference in ERG a-wave among the 4 groups when the stimuli light intensity ≥ -0.35 log cd×s×m(-2) (F = 12.510, 15.500, both P value < 0.01). Comparing to the group CON (ERG a-wave: 82.43 ± 26.68, ERG b-wave: 208.40 ± 51.20), the ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes of group DM (ERG a-wave: 39.71 ± 7.61, ERG b-wave: 92.20 ± 24.42) and group DM + DMSO (ERG a-wave: 37.63 ± 17.25, ERG b-wave: 93.11 ± 22.50)(t = 5.448 - 7.872, all P value < 0.05), and the ERG b-wave of group DM + CsA (160.10 ± 43.39) (t = 3.299, P < 0.05) were declined in dark adaptation, while the ERG a-wave (63.91 ± 20.32) of group DM ± CsA had no difference (P > 0.05). The a-wave and b-wave amplitudes of group DM + CsA were significantly increased compared to the other two groups in dark adaptation (t = 3.203 - 4.759, both P < 0.05). Under optical microscope, group DM, DM + DMSO and DM + CsA had outer nuclear layer (ONL) disorder. Under transmission electron microscope, there were ultrastructure changes of the three groups. Furthermore, the ONL disorder and ultrastructure changes of group DM + CsA were less severe than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Functional and morphological changes are evident in the early stages in DM rats. Intravitreal injection with CsA shows protective effects on the nerve function in DM retina.

[Long-term survival analysis in 89 adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia of fusion gene aml1/eto positive].

This study was aimed to investigate various factors influencing long-term survival in adult AML patients with fusion gene aml1/eto positive. A single institutional retrospective study with long-term follow-up was performed to better define the prognostic factors for AML patients with aml1/eto positive. Newly diagnosed 89 adult AML patients with aml1/eto positive were followed up for 1 to 42 months (median 24 months) from January 2004 to July 2008. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential factors influencing survival and prognosis were carried out by using Log-Rank and Cox regression method, including sex, age, initial WBC counts, extramedullary leukemic disease, central nervous system leukemia (CNSL), chromosome aberrations, immunophenotype, first induction regimen, chemotherapy course to complete remission (CR), time from induction therapy to CR, negative or positive rate of aml1/eto and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and so on. The results showed that the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were (50.0 +/- 2.3)% and (47.0 +/- 1.9)% respectively in follow-up of 89 patients for 1 - 42 months (mean 24 months). Univariate analysis revealed that initial WBC counts, CNSL, chemotherapy course to CR, time from induction therapy to CR, persistent negative in remission and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were important prognostic factors for long-term surviva1. Multivariate study demonstrated that initial WBC counts, CNSL, CD56 positive, negative or positive rate of aml1/eto, time from induction therapy to CR, persistent negative result of RT-PCR assay in remission and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were all critical factors in relation to OS and RFS. It is concluded that Chinese adult AML patients with fusion gene aml1/eto positive have some different characteristics as compared with patients from other countries, a relatively poor outcome is observed in patients, HSCT should be recommended to adult AML patients.

[Variations of soil labile organic carbon along an altitude gradient in Wuyi Mountain].

By using sequential fumigation-incubation method, this paper determined the soil labile organic carbon (LOC) content under evergreen broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, sub-alpine dwarf forest, and alpine meadow along an altitude gradient in Wuyi Mountain National Nature Reserve in Fujian Province of China, with its relations to soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and fine root biomass (FRB) analyzed. The results showed that soil LOC occupied 3.40%-7.46% of soil TOC, and soil MBC occupied 26.87%-80.38% of the LOC. The LOC under different forest stands increased significantly with altitude, and decreased with soil depth. Soil LOC had very significant correlations with soil MBC, TOC, TN and FRB, and its content was obviously higher at higher altitudes than at lower altitudes.

[Seasonal variation and temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under different plant communities along an elevation gradient in Wuyi Mountains of China].

Taking the National Nature Reserve in Wuyi Mountains as experimental site, the seasonal variation and temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under four plant communities along an elevation gradient were studied, with their relations to the main environmental factors analyzed. The results showed that the soil respiration under the four plant communities had the same seasonal pattern, with the maximum (3.10-6.57 micromol CO2 x m(-2) x S(-1)) occurred in summer and the minimum (0.27-1.15 micromol CO2 x m(-2) x s(-l)) in winter. Soil respiration rate had a significant exponential correlation with soil temperature, but its correlations with soil moisture and litter input differed with plant communities. The Q10 value of soil respiration was higher at high elevation than at low elevation. In mid-subtropical regions, the seasonal variation of soil respiration at different elevations was mainly controlled by soil temperature, indicating that in the case of global warming in the future, soils at higher elevation might release more CO2 to the atmosphere.

[Genotyping of HLA-DRB by oligonucleotide arrays in Han populations in southern China].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an oligoneucleotide array for HLA-DRB typing and evaluate its function in comparison with that of PCR-SSP typing. METHODS: According to the specific allele sequences of HLA-DRB loci in Han populations in Southern China, 44 synthesized typing probes were immobilized on a glass supports. A pair of group-specific primers was designed according to the sequence of HLA-DRB exon2, then the primers and Cy5-dCTP were used in PCR, thus the PCR products were labeled with Cy5. The labeled PCR products were hybridized with the probes in the array, and the signals were scanned by scanner and then analyzed by Image software.110 samples of DNA of the lymphocytes from the spleens or peripheral blood of kidney recipients and unrelated donors were typed by this array and the results were compared with those of PCR-SSP typing. RESULTS: All the samples except for one without PCR product had been genotyped by HLA array successfully. Ten samples were identified differently by these 2 methods. PCR-SSO verified the correctness of the array in 7 samples among which 6 samples were identified as homozygous by PCR-SSP and heterozygous by array and 1 sample was identified as heterozygous by PCR-SSP and homozygous by the array; and proved that among the remaining 3 samples the results of 2 samples identified by PCR-SSP and 1 sample identified by the array were wrong. CONCLUSION: The HLA-DRB oligoneucleotide array technique is a precise, rapid molecular method for HLA-DRB genotyping. Compared with PCR-SSP method, the genotyping chip is more sensitive and specific and can test several samples at a time.