Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols on cardiac function in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the mechanism by which tea polyphenols regulate autophagy in diabetic cardiomyopathy.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: a normal control group (NC), an obesity group (OB), a diabetic cardiomyopathy group (DCM), a tea polyphenol group (TP), an obesity tea polyphenol treatment group (OB-TP), and a diabetic cardiomyopathy tea polyphenol treatment group (DCM-TP). After successful modeling, serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined; cardiac structure and function were inspected by ultrasonic cardiography; myocardial pathology was examined by staining with hematoxylin-eosin; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology and quantity of autophagosomes; and expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3-II, SQSTM1/p62, and Beclin-1 were determined by Western blotting.Results:Compared to the NC group, the OB group had normal blood glucose and a high level of blood lipids; both blood glucose and lipids were increased in the DCM group; ultrasonic cardiograms showed that the fraction shortening was reduced in the DCM group. However, these were improved significantly in the DCM-TP group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed disordered cardiomyocytes and hypertrophy in the DCM group; however, no differences were found among the remaining groups. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the numbers of autophagosomes in the DCM and OB-TP groups were obviously increased compared to the NC and OB groups; the number of autophagosomes in the DCM-TP group was reduced. Western blotting showed that the expression of LC3-II/I and Beclin-1 increased obviously, whereas the expression of SQSTM1/p62 was decreased in the DCM and OB-TP groups (P<0.05).Conclusions:Tea polyphenols had an effect on diabetic cardiomyopathy in rat cardiac function and may alter the levels of autophagy to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes.
Abstract:The aim of this study is to assess the antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of the lipid extract from Mantidis ootheca against the gentamycin resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chemical composition of the lipid extract and its relative proportion were determined using the technique of gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibacterial susceptibility tests were performed using a disc diffusion assay and the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was determined by way of the agar dilution method. The anti-biofilm test was carried out with crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There were 16 compounds detected, and the most abundant components were sesquiterpenoids, monoterpenes, and trace aromatic compounds. The MIC for P. aeruginosa was 4 mg/ml and the eradication effect on preformed biofilms was established and compared with a ciprofloxacin control. The results of our study indicated that a lipid extract from M. ootheca could be used as a topical and antibacterial agent with anti-biofilm activity in the future.
Abstract:Objectives:To observe the surface characteristics and mechanical behavior of retrieved microimplants under clinically simulating experimental conditions and to investigate the feasibility of reuse of microimplants. Materials andmethods:The microimplants, inserted at different angles, were retrieved from the patients (RMIP) and the artificial bone (RMIA). Surface characteristics, including morphologic changes of tips and thread edges, length reduction, and surface compositional variation, were evaluated using a field emission scanning electron microscope, a stereoscopic microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Mechanical behavior comprising maximum insertion torque (MIT) and insertion time was tested with the artificial bone under clinically simulating conditions.Results:The tips and thread edges were worn out to various degrees in retrieved microimplants and thin deposits were observed on the surface in the RMIP group. Traces of foreign elements, such as iron, sulphur, and calcium, were detected on the surface of RMIP. Both MIT and insertion time of retrieved microimplants were increased compared to their initial use, and were much greater in RMIP. The increases of MIT were seen in all groups inserted at the insertion angle of 45° compared with 90°, although the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions:Retrieved microimplants exhibited different degrees of changes on surface characteristics and mechanical behavior, with more changes in RMIP. The reuse of microimplants for immediate relocation in the same patient may be acceptable; however, postponed relocation and allogeneic reuse of microimplants are not recommended in clinical practice.
Abstract:The pathogenesis and therapeutic treatment of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) remain unsolved, highlighting the need for stable and effective experimental animal models. In this study, uterine electrocoagulation of twenty-one female New Zealand White rabbits was carried out to establish an IUA model. As rabbits have two completely separate uterine horns, each rabbit had its own internal control: one uterine horn was given an electrothermal injury (Group A, n=21), and the contralateral uterine horn received no treatment and served as the control (Group B, n=21). The endometrial morphology, number of endometrial glands, area of endometrial fibrosis, and number of implanted fetuses were compared between the two groups. In Group A, the numbers of endometrial glands on Days 7 and 14 and the number of implanted fetuses were significantly lower than those in Group B (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.01, respectively), while the ratio of the area with endometrial stromal fibrosis to the total endometrial area was significantly increased (P<0.01). These results suggest that this method of electrothermal injury is effective for the establishment of a rabbit IUA model between 7 and 14 d after surgery.
Keywords:Intrauterine adhesion;Electrothermal injury;Rabbit model
Abstract:A rapid decline in egg production of laying hens begins after 480 d of age. Such a rapid decrease results predominantly from the ovarian aging, accompanied by endocrine changes, decreased yolk synthesis and accumulation, and the reduction in follicles selected into the preovulatory hierarchy. In this study, hens at 90, 150, 280, and 580 d old (D90, D150, D280, and D580, respectively) were compared for yolk precursor formation in the liver to elucidate effects of aging on laying performance. The results showed that liver lipid synthesis increased remarkably in hens from D90 to D150, but decreased sharply at D580 as indicated by the changes in triglyceride (TG) levels. This result was consistent with the age-related changes of the laying performance. The levels of liver antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly in D580 hens and the methane dicarboxylic aldehyde in D580 hens was much higher than that at other stages. The serum 17β-estradiol level increased from D90 to D280, but decreased at D580 (P<0.05). The expression of estrogen receptor α and β mRNAs in the liver displayed similar changes to the serum 17β-estradiol in D580 hens. Expressions of the genes related to yolk precursor formation and enzymes responsible for fat acid synthesis were all decreased in D580 hens. These results indicated that decreased yolk precursor formation in the liver of the aged hens resulted from concomitant decreases of serum 17β-estradiol level, transcription levels of estrogen receptors and critical genes involved in yolk precursor synthesis, and liver antioxidant status.
Abstract:Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) has been widely used as an alternative flame retardant due to the restriction or phase-out of traditional polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and is of increasing concern regarding its ubiquity, persistence, and potential adverse effects. In the present study, the toxicological effects of DBDPE were evaluated using zebrafish as an in vivo model. Upon being exposed to DBDPE-polluted sediments for a short term, it was found that the mortality and malformation of zebrafish (including edema, bent notochord, and bent tail) were not affected even at the highest concentration tested (1000.0 µg/kg dry sediment). Regarding behavioral responses, it was found that zebrafish larvae of 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) in all groups escaped successfully with a touch to the dorsal fin. However, when exposed to the highest DBDPE concentration, the larvae of 120 hpf exhibited significantly smaller distances as compared to the control. Moreover, the results of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the expression levels of two important nerve-related genes, and the cell apoptosis all indicated that DBDPE posed low neurotoxicity in embryo-larval zebrafish. The results in this study shed some light on the potential risks of DBDPE in the real environment and highlight the application of the sediment exposure route in the future.
Abstract:In aged patients, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), highlighting the need for timely and certain diagnosis of this disease. A single centre, nested case-control study was conducted, which assessed the usefulness of urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (uL-FABP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) for early detection of AKI. One hundred and thirty-two patients at or over 60 years old undergoing PCI were included. Serum creatinine (SCr) was measured before PCI, 24 and 48 h after PCI; uL-FABP, uNGAL, and uKIM-1 were measured before PCI, 6, 24, and 48 h after PCI. We identified 16 AKI patients and selected 32 control patients matched by admission time (<1 week), age (±5 years), and gender. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the areas under the curve (AUCs) for the relative measurements of uL-FABP, uNGAL, and uKIM-1 were 0.809, 0.867, and 0.512 at 6 h after PCI, and 0.888, 0.840, and 0.676 at 24 h after PCI, respectively. AUC for the combination of uL-FABP and uNGAL was 0.899 at 6 h after PCI, and 0.917 at 24 h after PCI. Thus, measurement of uL-FABP and uNGAL levels at 6 and 24 h after PCI may be useful in detecting AKI in aged patients. Measurement of uKIM-1 levels provides inferior predictive power for early diagnosis of AKI.
Abstract:Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis for patients. The primary causes of death are arrhythmia and heart failure. For patients admitted because of myocardial infarction, various risk evaluations are initiated to foresee possible complications. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score, which can be used to predict the prognosis and the need for revascularisation, is the most convenient and commonly used system, but is inadequate for AMI patients on admittance. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) has been shown to be a valuable electrocardiographic (ECG) index for predicting the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease. Also, fQRS is considered to predict an increased likelihood of a poor outcome and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), even for some successfully revascularized AMI patients. So what would happen if fQRS and the TIMI risk score were combined? This study focused on the investigation of the short-term prognostic value of fQRS combined with the TIMI risk score for patients with AMI.
Abstract:In 2013, two episodes of influenza emerged in china and caused worldwide concern. A new h7N9 avian Influenza Virus (AIV) first appeared in china on February 19, 2013. By August 31, 2013, the virus had spread to ten provinces and two metropolitan cities. Of 134 patients with h7N9 influenza, 45 died. From then on, epidemics emerged sporadically in china and resulted in several victims. On November 30, 2013, a 73-year-old woman presented with an influenza-like illness. She developed multiple organ failure and died 9 d after the onset of disease. A novel reassortant AIV, h10N8, was isolated from a tracheal aspirate specimen that was obtained from the patient 7 d after onset. This case was the first human case of influenza A subtype h10N8. On 4 February, 2014, another death due to h10N8 avian influenza was reported in Jiangxi Province, china.
Abstract:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic and endocrine disorder in women. However, there is no agreement concerning how to diagnose and treat PCOS worldwide. Three practice guidelines or consensuses, including consensus from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)/the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Rotterdam, diagnosis criteria and consensus in China, and clinical practice guideline from the Endocrine Society (ES) in the United States are widely recognized. The present paper may provide some guidance for clinical practice based on a comparative analysis of the above three practice guidelines or consensuses.