Effect of light deprivation on expression of extended vascular endothelial growth factor and neovascularization in retina of neonatal rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of light deprivation on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and neovascularization in the retina of neonatal rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six neonatal SD rats (male and female) were used in this study. These rats were numbered randomly and assigned into 3 groups (12 rats in each group), ie. 10-day group (routine feeding after birth, eyeball enucleation on 10th day), 14-day group (routine feeding after birth, eyeball enucleation on 14th day) and light deprivation group (routine feeding within 1st week after birth, feeding with light deprivation within 2nd week after birth, eyeball enucleation on 14th day). The expression level of VEGF mRNA was measured by RT-PCR, and the percentage of the retinal vascular area was calculated by PAS staining, and the number of vascular endothelial cells was counted with a microscope in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: It was found that the expression levels of VEGF mRNA and the number of vascular endothelial cells in 10-day group and light deprivation group were significantly higher than 14-day group (p < 0.05), while the difference between the 10-day group and light deprivation group was not significant. The percentage of retinal vascular area in the 10-day group and light deprivation group was significantly lower than 14-day group (p < 0.05), while the difference between the 10-day group and the light deprivation group was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The light deprivation delayed the growth of neovessels in the retina.

[Necrotizing cervico-facial cellulitis of dental origin in a developing country]. / Les cellulites cervico-faciales nécrosantes d'origine dentaire dans un pays en voie de développement.

INTRODUCTION: Necrotizing cellulitis of dental origin is a serious disease and requires prompt and effective management to avoid adverse outcomes. The purpose of this work is to describe the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in this condition. METHODS: This was a prospective study in the thoracic surgery department of Mali Hospital from January 2011 to February 2015. We collected consecutively 19 cases of complicating cervico-facial cellulitis of dental origin. The anatomical and clinical aspects, therapeutic modalities and difficulties are described. RESULTS: Dental pain and fever were the predominant symptoms followed by cervical edema. Chest CT-scan was the basis for the diagnosis in all cases. Cervicotomy with debridement was the most performed surgical procedure. Pleural drainage was performed in 6 cases. Three patients (15.8%) died. CONCLUSION: Necrotizing cellulitis of dental origin is a serious disease with high morbidity and mortality. The key radiological examination is the thoracic CT-scan. Early medico-surgical management by emergency care, tailored antibiotic therapy, removal of necrotizing tissues and drainage of collections are required to deliver a good outcome.

Effects of light on the development of melanoposin containing retinal ganglion cells in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of light on the development of light-sensitive retinal ganglion cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were segregated into 3 groups (n=18) which included routine feeding 10-day group 1, routine feeding 14-day group 2 and light-deprivation feeding 14-day group 3. The group 1 animals were routinely fed for 10 days in normal light conditions and were sacrificed for analyses on day 10. Similarly, group 2 animals were routinely fed for 14 days in normal light conditions and were sacrificed for analyses on day 14. The group 3 animals were kept were routinely fed for 7 days which was followed by their feeding in a light-deprived conditions and were sacrificed on day 14. RESULTS: The expression of the opsin gene determined by real-time PCR in retinal tissues showed a significant decline in the light-deprived group 3 when compared to other two groups. Furthermore, the melanopsin protein also showed a significant decline in its protein expression in light-deprived group 3 as observed by immune-blot analyses. The immuno-fluorescence analyses also showed the similar trend confirming the effect of light on the development of retinal ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: Light is essential for the proper development process of retinal ganglion cells as light directly affects regulatory opsin gene expression.

Far upstream element-binding protein 1 is a prognostic biomarker and promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with tremendous invasion and metastasis capacities, and it has a high incidence in southeast Asia and southern China. Previous studies identified that far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FBP1), a transcriptional regulator of c-Myc that is one of the most frequently aberrantly expressed oncogenes in various human cancers, including NPC, is an important biomarker for many cancers. Our study aimed to investigate the expression and function of FBP1 in human NPC. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) were performed in NPC cells and biopsies. Furthermore, the effect of FBP1 knockdown on cell proliferation, colony formation, side population tests and tumorigenesis in nude mice were measured by MTT, clonogenicity analysis, flow cytometry and a xenograft model, respectively. The results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of FBP1, which are positively correlated with c-Myc expression, were substantially higher in NPC than that in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. IHC revealed that the patients with high FBP1 expression had a significantly poorer prognosis compared with the patients with low expression (P=0.020). In univariate analysis, high FBP1 and c-Myc expression predicted poorer overall survival (OS) and poorer progression-free survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that high FBP1 and c-Myc expression were independent prognostic markers. Knockdown of FBP1 reduced cell proliferation, clonogenicity and the ratio of side populations, as well as tumorigenesis in nude mice. These data indicate that FBP1 expression, which is closely correlated with c-Myc expression, is an independent prognostic factor and promotes NPC progression. Our results suggest that FBP1 can not only serve as a useful prognostic biomarker for NPC but also as a potential therapeutic target for NPC patients.

[Heller myotomy by transthoracic procedure, a single center experience in Mali with 21 cases]. / Myotomie de heller par voie transthoracique : une experience monocentrique au mali de 21 cas.

AIMS: To evaluate the midterm results of myotomy for achalasia by thoracotomy procedure with the introduction of anti-reflux system by diaphragmatic flap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study involved 21 patients (14 women and 7 men) operated for idiopathic megaesophagus during a period of 3 years. All the patients were operated by thoracotomy procedure. An anti-reflux system was performed using a diaphragmatic flap over the entire length of the myotomy. RESULTS: The mean age was 32 years (range 16 and 68 years). After the surgery we have seen a complete disappearance of dysphagia in 21 patients (100 %) (p <0.001) and a significant weight regain. Short term outcomes were marked by the occurrence of clinical gastroesophageal reflux disease in 1 patient (4.76%) who has received the anti-reflux system (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oeso-cardio-myotomy of Heller by transthoracic procedure associated with the establishment of an anti reflux system by diaphragmatic flap has goods results.

BUT: Evaluer les résultats à mi-parcours de l'œsocardiomyotomie de Heller par voie transthoracique avec la mise en place du système anti-reflux par un lambeau diaphragmatique pour le mégaoesophage idiopathique. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective ayant concerné 21 patients (14 femmes et 7 hommes) opérés pour un mégaoesophage idiopathique durant une période de 3 ans. La voie d'abord a été la voie transthoracique gauche pour tous nos patients. Un système anti-reflux avait été réalisé en utilisant un lambeau diaphragmatique sur toute la longueur de la myotomie de l'œsophage thoracique. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen était de 32 ans (extrêmes : 16 et 68 ans). Les suites immédiates étaient simples. Après l'intervention nous avons assisté à une disparition complète de la dysphagie chez 21 patients (100 %) (p < 0,001) et une reprise pondérale conséquente. Les suites à court terme étaient marquées par la survenue d'un reflux gastro-œsophagien clinique chez 1 patient (4.76 %) qui avait bénéficié d'un système anti-reflux (p > 0,05). CONCLUSION: L'œsocardiomyotomie de Heller par voie transthoracique associée à la mise en place systématique d'un système anti-reflux par lambeau diaphragmatique donne de bons résultats.

Secondary structure estimation and properties analysis of stretched Asian and Caucasian hair.

BACKGROUND: In this previous work, we investigated the secondary structure changes of stretched yak hairs by deconvolution, secondary derivation, and curve fitting and determined the number of bands and their positions in order to resolve the protein spectrum of Raman spectroscopy. OBJECTIVES: The secondary structure estimation and properties analysis of stretched Asian and Caucasian hair were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile curves, and measurement of density. METHODS: The hairs were stretched, dried, and baked at ratios 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. RESULTS: The analysis of the amide I band indicated that the transformation from α-helix to ß-pleated structure occurred during the stretching process, which could be verified from the tensile analysis. The cysteine oxide in S-O vibration area exhibited that stretching led to the breakage of the disulfide bonds. When the stretching ratio of Caucasian hair was more than a certain ratio, the fiber macromolecular structure was destroyed because Caucasian hair had finer diameter and less medulla than Asian hair. The ß turn was easier to retract compared with other conformations, resulted in the content increase. The density measurements revealed that the structure of Caucasian hair was indeed more destroyed than that of Asian hair. The cuticles characterization indicated the length of scales was stretched longer and the thickness became thinner. Caucasian hair tended to collapse to form small fragments at the early stage of stretching. With the increase in stretching ratio, the scales of Caucasian hair lifted up, then flaked off and the scale interval increased accordingly. Asian hair was more easily peeled off than Caucasian hair cuticles with the increase in stretching ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The secondary structure of Caucasian hair was destroyed more easily than that of Asian hair.

Myotomie de Heller par voie transthoracique : une experience monocentrique au Mali de 21 cas

But : Evaluer les resultats a mi-parcours de l'osocardiomyotomie de Heller par voie transthoracique avec la mise en place du systeme anti-reflux par un lambeau diaphragmatique pour le megaoesophage idiopathique. Patients et methodes : Il s'agissait d'une etude prospective ayant concerne 21 patients (14 femmes et 7 hommes) operes pour un megaoesophage idiopathique durant une periode de 3 ans. La voie d'abord a ete la voie transthoracique gauche pour tous nos patients. Un systeme anti-reflux avait ete realise en utilisant un lambeau diaphragmatique sur toute la longueur de la myotomie de l'oesophage thoracique. Resultats : L'age moyen etait de 32 ans (extremes : 16 et 68 ans). Les suites immediates etaient simples. Apres l'intervention nous avons assiste a une disparition complete de la dysphagie chez 21 patients (100 %) (p 0;001) et une reprise ponderale consequente. Les suites a court terme etaient marquees par la survenue d'un reflux gastro-osophagien clinique chez 1 patient (4.76 %) qui avait beneficie d'un systeme anti-reflux (p 0;05). Conclusion : L'osocardiomyotomie de Heller par voie transthoracique associee a la mise en place systematique d'un systeme anti-reflux par lambeau diaphragmatique donne de bons resultats

A national survey of stress reactions after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

BACKGROUND: People who are not present at a traumatic event may also experience stress reactions. We assessed the immediate mental health effects of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. METHODS: Using random-digit dialing three to five days after September 11, we interviewed a nationally representative sample of 569 U.S. adults about their reactions to the terrorist attacks and their perceptions of their children's reactions. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of the adults reported one or more substantial stress symptoms; 91 percent had one or more symptoms to at least some degree. Respondents throughout the country reported stress syndromes. They coped by talking with others (98 percent), turning to religion (90 percent), participating in group activities (60 percent), and making donations (36 percent). Eighty-five percent of parents reported that they or other adults in the household had talked to their children about the attacks for an hour or more; 34 percent restricted their children's television viewing. Thirty-five percent of children had one or more stress symptoms, and 47 percent were worried about their own safety or the safety of loved ones. CONCLUSIONS: After the September 11 terrorist attacks, Americans across the country, including children, had substantial symptoms of stress. Even clinicians who practice in regions that are far from the recent attacks should be prepared to assist people with trauma-related symptoms of stress.