Changes of retinal vessel density in low to moderate myopic eyes with orthokeratology evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography.

AIM: To explore the effect of orthokeratology (OK) fitting on retinal vessel density in low to moderate myopia adolescents by using optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS: Children aged 10 to 14y with a cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction of -0.50 diopter (D) to -5.00 D and astigmatism with more than -1.50 D were recruited. The enrolled adolescents were divided into OK group and spectacle group. During regular follow-up, adolescents were measured respectively at pre-wear, 1, 3, and 6mo after treatment. The follow-up included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), axial length (AL), superficial capillary plexus density (SCPD), deep capillary plexus density (DCPD), central retinal thickness (CRT), foveal avascular zone area (FAZ-A), foveal avascular zone perimeter (FAZ-P) and foveal vessel density in a 300-µm-wide region around foveal avascular zone (FD-300). The collected data were analyzed using statistical methods. RESULTS: By one month, SCPD significantly increased in the fovea and superior retina, and DCPD significantly increased inferiorly in OK group compared to spectacle group (P<0.05). By three months, there were significant increases in SCPD in the fovea and inferior retina, and DCPD in the parafovea, superior, and inferior retina in OK group (P<0.05), while the increase in SCPD and DCPD in the fovea were observed by six months (P<0.05). The FD-300 significantly increased at every follow-up in OK group compared to spectacle group (P<0.05). No significant differences in the CRT, FAZ-A and FAZ-P and FD-300 were observed between two groups (P>0.05). OK group showed a significant improvement in UDVA after wearing OK, compared to spectacle group (P<0.01), while the AL did not show a significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term OK worn can increase local retinal vessel density in adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia.

[Effects of muscle derived-IL-6 on insulin resistance of skeletal muscle cells and its mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of exogenous calcium-load on promoting muscle-derived IL-6 secretion, and regulating AMPK and p38MAPK signal pathway to improve insulin resistance. METHODS: C2C12 cell lines and palmitic acid-induced insulin resistance C2C12 cell lines were selected as the experimental objects. Preliminary experiment was aimed to determinate the glucose concentrations of culture solutions and observe contraction status of cells under microscope following different calcium concentrations culture 24 h. In the first official experiment, cells were divided into four groups: control group (A group, normal culture solution), IR group(B group, 0.6 mmol/L palmitic acid culture cells 24 h), 1 000 ng/ml IL-6 culture IR B group cells 48 h(IL-6+IR group) and IL-6 shRNA culture A group cells (IL-6shRNA group). In the second official experiment, cells were divided into three groups: IR group(A group), 100 µmol/L CaCl2 culture IR group cells 48 h(CaCl2+IR group) and 100 µmol/L CaCl2 and IL-6shRNA co- culture IR group cells 48 h(CaCl2+IL-6shRNA+IR group). The expression levels of GLUT4 mRNA and IL-6 mRNA were measured by real-time PCR, the protein expression levels of p-AMPK, p-p38MAPK, p-IRS-1 and p-PI-3K were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Preliminary experiment results showed that compared with 0 µmol/L CaCl2 group, the glucose concentrations were decreased significantly after cells treated with CaCl2, at different concentrations. The cell contractions were observed under microscope and the cell contraction was most obvious treated with 100 µmol/L CaCl2. The first official experiment results showed that compared with IR group, the contents of p-AMP-activated protein kinase(p-AMPK), p-insulin receptor substrate 1(p-IRS-1), p-phosphoinositide-3 kinase(p-PI-3K), the expression level of glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) mRNA and the glucose uptake of IL-6+IR group were increased significantly(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), the p-p38MAPK protein expression level was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) ; Compared with control group, the expression levels of p-AMPK, P-IRS-1, p-PI-3K, the expression level of GLUT4 mRNA and the glucose uptake of IL-6shRNA group were decreased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), the p-p38MAPK protein expression level was increased significantly (P＜0.01). The second official experiment results showed that compared with IR group, the expression levels of p-AMPK, P-IRS-1, p-PI-3K, the level of GLUT4 mRNA of CaCl2+IR group were increased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), the p-p38MAPK protein expression level was decreased significantly (P＜0.01); Compared with CaCl2+IR group, the contents of p-AMPK, P-IRS-1, p-PI-3K, the expression level of GLUT4 mRNA and the glucose uptake of CaCl2+IL-6 shRNA+IR group were decreased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), the p-p38MAPK protein expression level was increased significantly (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: Exogenous Ca-load can stimulate muscle cells contraction, and exercise-induced IL-6 improves insulin resistance by activating AMPK, PI-3Kand inhibiting p38MAPK signal pathway.

Hydrophilic hindering and hydrophobic growing: a vesicle glycometabolism multi-drug combination therapeutic against Alzheimer's disease.

Advanced drug vehicle exploitation and the sophisticated synergy mechanism revelation are two great difficulties in combination therapy. Compared with most readily available polymer micelles, some undiscovered complex chemical design principles limit the expanding research of polymer vesicles. Here, polycaprolactone (PCL)-g-Dextran vesicle that dextran brush steric hindrance guide PCL lamellae-aligned growth was synthesized. The effect of the glycometabolism multi-drug vesicle combination treatment and synergism mechanism were investigated on senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. The main insulin sensitizer drug could improve the memory ability of mice to a small extent, and the main insulin secretion promoter drug had little beneficial effect. Moreover, the triple anti-insulin resistant drugs of insulin (INS), repaglinide (REP) and metformin hydrochloride (MET) activated the glycometabolism-related bio-signals, and the energy cycle was normalized successfully. The insulin intracellular uptake and utilization efficiency could be the reason for the gap. The upregulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein confirmed that the crosstalk between the mitochondria and synapse contributes to the nerve repair. This study provided an excellent drug combination vesicle to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). The discovery of the combination mechanism leads to an improvement in the AD clinical treatment.

Regulation of Myostatin on the Growth and Development of Skeletal Muscle.

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily, can negatively regulate the growth and development of skeletal muscle by autocrine or paracrine signaling. Mutation of the myostatin gene under artificial or natural conditions can lead to a significant increase in muscle quality and produce a double-muscle phenotype. Here, we review the similarities and differences between myostatin and other members of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily and the mechanisms of myostatin self-regulation. In addition, we focus extensively on the regulation of myostatin functions involved in myogenic differentiation, myofiber type conversion, and skeletal muscle protein synthesis and degradation. Also, we summarize the induction of reactive oxygen species generation and oxidative stress by myostatin in skeletal muscle. This review of recent insights into the function of myostatin will provide reference information for future studies of myostatin-regulated skeletal muscle formation and may have relevance to agricultural fields of study.

Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with Microwave Demulsification for Determination of FAME Residuals in Biodiesel Wastewater.

Biodiesel consists of various fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) that are mainly produced through transesterification of plant oil or animal fat. It is essential for biodiesel to be purified utmostly to meet its product standard before being traded, while the universal purification method has been water washing. However, water washing inevitably causes the residual of FAMEs in wastewater, which represents a loss of industrial profits. For the purpose of determination and monitoring of the FAME profile in wastewater, there is a necessity to develop a fast and reliable approach with small volume of sample in need. Hence, in this study, a combination of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and microwave demulsification is applied for the enrichment of residual FAMEs in water, followed by qualitative and quantitative analyses using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the optimal extractant in DLLME approach is toluene. And the optimal parameters are 20 mL of water sample, 80 µL of toluene as the extractant, 60 s of ultrasonic irradiation duration, 200 W of microwave power and 2 min of microwave irradiation duration. The standard curves and linear equations obtained with these conditions are used for the quantitative analysis of biodiesel wastewater, which reveals that there was 50.35 mg·L-1 of the total FAME residuals in wastewater. To the best of our knowledge, it is for the first time that the combined technique of DLLME and microwave demulsification is applied in determination of residual FAMEs in water samples. The proposed method corresponds to small volumes of sample and extractant and short analytical period. It also has the potential to be extended to the analysis of other water pollutants.

Comparison of the Hepatoprotective Effects of the Three Main Stilbenes from Mulberry Twigs.

The purpose of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective effects of Oxy (oxyresveratrol), Res (resveratrol), and MulA (mulberroside A) (80 mg/kg body weight/d, i.g.) on acute liver injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (d-GalN) in mice. After 7 h of LPS (50 µg/kg body weight, i.p.) and d-GalN (500 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) exposure, the activities of serum transaminases and antioxidant enzymes were determined. The expressions of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signal pathway, the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathway, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway related proteins were evaluated by Western blot assays. Histopathological analysis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining on the separated livers of mice. The results showed that treatment with Oxy, Res, and MulA could significantly decreases the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) ( P < 0.01). MulA was the most effective ingredient among the three, and the ALT and AST levels were reduced at 90.3 ± 1.3% and 93.9 ± 1.1% compared with the LPS/D-GalN treated group ( P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the stilbenes curbed the expression of inflammatory factors, NF-κB pathway activation, and MAPKs phosphorylation and upregulated antioxidant enzymes, Nrf2, NAD (P) H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression levels. Stilbenes might protect the ALI caused by LPS/d-GalN through inhibiting the negative effectiveness of oxidation stress and inflammation. The protective performance of MulA was better than those of Oxy and Res, and we hypothesize that it might be due to the mediation of the specific metabolic pathway of the MulA in vivo. All of these results implied that stilbenes in mulberry twigs might be promising as natural additives.

[Overview of the genetic control of horse coat color patterns].

Mammalian coat color is one of the first phenotypic changes resulting from positive selection by humans, and it serves important roles in genetic and evolutionary processes. Among them, horses show a broad variety of coat color patterns, based on which it is difficult to distinguish the real phenotypes, resulting in confused records in horse breed registration. Thus, research in the genetic mechanisms on the development of coat color patterns is significant in horse reproduction and breeding. With the recent establishment of genomics and sequencing technologies, there are significant advances in research in the genetics of horse coat colors, which demonstrate that special coat colors could be associated with certain diseases. In this review, we classify horse coat colors from the perspective of genetics, and summarize the recent research progresses of the associated genes and molecular mechanisms on horse coat color development and its application, thereby providing references to further systematic research on horse coat color patterns and their practical uses in horse breeding.

Growth and optical properties of Ag-Ti composite nanorods based on oblique angle co-deposition technique.

Ag-Ti composite nanorod structures with various Ag compositions were fabricated by the oblique angle co-deposition technique, and their optical transmission spectra are tuned by composition ratios of Ag and Ti, polarization directions, and deposition angles. Such tunable optical properties have potential applications in optoelectronics. Specially, for the Ag80 composite nanorod structures, there exists a wavelength, where it is isotropic. We also show that the transmission spectra of the Ag80 composite nanorod structure for the deposition angle of 87.5° are greater than 90%, while the transmission spectra for the 75° deposition angle are lower than 20%. Utilizing such a property, high or low transmission lenses can be designed.

Large-area broadband optical absorber fabricated by shadowing sphere lithography.

We report a large-area broadband optical absorber consisting of Ag/SiO2 stacked plasmonic layers fabricated on a self-assembly polystyrene sphere monolayer using the glancing angle deposition. Such an absorber can absorb more than 90% of light in the spectral range of 350 - 850 nm when the polystyrene spheres have a diameter of 750 nm. The broadband absorption is due to the overlap of localized plasmonic resonance wavelengths resulting from different patchy sizes and shapes of Ag coating on polystyrene spheres. Such a simple, flexible and large-area absorber has potential applications in light cloaking and energy conversion.

Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements and Gd-DTPA enhanced-imaging in staging hepatic fibrosis in rats.

To evaluate the utility of ADC values and Gd-DTPA equilibrium phase MR imaging in staging hepatic fibrosis in rats. 48 rats were allocated into experimental and control groups. Experimental rats were subcutaneously injected with a mixture of CCl4. From 4th-12th weeks, MR images were obtained, which include pre-enhanced phase imaging, DWI and equilibrium phase imaging. Then the rat groups were subdivided according to the stages of fibrosis (S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4) after histopathological analysis. The original MRI data were forwarded to the workstation to obtain apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps at b value of 500 s/mm(2). Pre-enhanced phase and equilibrium phase signal intensities and relative contrast enhancement index (RCEI) were measured as well. Lastly, the ADC values and RCEI of the experimental group were compared with each other and with the control group. All statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS, where P < 0.05 is considered to represent a significant difference. Hepatic ADC values are significantly different between the experimental and control groups (P = 0). There is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups on RCEI (P = 0). Comparing the S1, S2, S3 and S4 groups, there is a statistically significant difference between the mild group (S1 and S2) and the severe group (S4) in terms of ADC values and RCEI (all P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference is also found between the moderate group (S3) and the severe group in ADC values. As the degree of fibrosis increases, there are a reduction in ADC values and an increase in RCEI. Comparing the groups with ADC values and enhancement index, there are statistically significant differences in sensitivity and specificity on diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. The ADC values have the best sensitivity (93.1%) and specificity (83.3%). Quantitative ADC values and RCEI may be helpful to the staging of rat fibrosis, but their application in human is controversial.

Endovascular treatment of central venous stenosis and obstruction in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Central venous stenosis and obstruction (CVD) is a serious and prevalent challenge to both resolve the venous hypertension symptoms and maintain the pantency of the ipsilateral hemodialysis access in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to summarize our experience of the endovascular management of the central venous stenosis or obstruction in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Twenty-four haemodialysis cases of central vein stenosis or obstruction with ipsilateral functional vascular access in our hospital between July 2006 and February 2012 were treated by interventional therapy and the data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eighteen males and six females with mean age of (66.4 ± 13.8) years and manifesting with arm swelling and venous hypertension were enrolled; 62.5% of them had a history of catheterization. Venography showed stenotic lesion in 10 cases including eight cases of brachiocephalic vein stenosis and two cases of subclavian vein stenosis and 14 cases of obstruction lesions including seven cases of short brachiocephalic obstruction and seven cases of long segment obstruction. Interventional therapy was performed and the technique success rate was 83.3%. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in nine cases and stent was performed in 11 cases firstly. The symptoms of venous hypertension were resolved after intervention in all the cases. There was no major complication and death perioperatively. During follow-up, reintervention was done, the primary patency rates were (88.9 ± 10.5)%, (64.8 ± 10.5)% and (48.6 ± 18.7)% at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after treatment in the PTA group; (90.0 ± 9.5)% and (77.1 ± 14.4)% at 6 months and 1 year after treatment in the stent group, respectively. The secondary patency rates were (48.6 ± 18.7)% in the PTA group and (83.3 ± 15.2)% in the stent group 1 year after treatment, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (primary patency, P = 0.20; secondary patency, P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular intervention is a safe and effective method for CVD in short term; enhanced follow-up and repeated interventions are required to maintain patency for long term. The prevention is most important. Avoiding and minimizing the placement of the central venous catheter may be the key point for the prevention.

Endovascular recanalization of superior vena cava, brachiocephalic, and subclavian venous occlusions caused by nonmalignant lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular recanalization (EVR) is becoming the primary therapy for patients with central venous (brachiocephalic, subclavian, and superior vena cava) occlusion (CVO) caused by benign etiology. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed our experience in using EVR to treat benign CVO in 10 patients between April 2005 and September 2010. METHODS: The mean age of the patients was 65.3 years, 2/10 cases were female, and the origin of cause of CVO in 7/10 cases was the hemodialysis access in the upper extremity. The patients were treated with primary stent placement and evaluated with immediate technical success rate and post-interventional patency rate after the procedure. RESULTS: Eight patients were treated successfully with stent placement and experienced symptomatic relief immediately. No technical complications were observed during EVR treatment. Patients were followed up by ultrasonography and venography. Median follow-up was 13 months. Three patients required secondary procedures to maintain patency. CONCLUSIONS: EVR is an effective and safe treatment in patients with benign CVO. It provides immediate symptom relief and maintains a continuous access for hemodialysis.

[Effects of Kit gene on coat depigmentation in white horses].

Coat color of horse is an important basis for both species identification and individual recognition and is also one of the important references traits for breeding. Therefore, the research on the mechanism of coat fading has become an important part of horses' coat color study. It has been found that the white phenotype is closely related to the mutation of kit gene, which is located on chromosome 3. Investigated results showed that the formation of the epidermal melanoblast and melanin relies on the expression of kit gene, which determines the presence of white phenotype. Nevertheless, studies results have shown that the mutation of kit gene in the white horse exhibited significant differences among species. Horses that the coat color completely faded are very rare and are found occasionally in a few species. However, a larger number of horses that coat color completely faded, called Mongolian white horse, are found in West Ujimqin , Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia. Therefore, genetic mechanism of color fading in Mongolian white horses is still not clear. No typical mutations have been observed in 21 exons of kit gene in Mongolian white horse. This paper summarized recent international studies on molecular mechanism of color fading and tried to lay the foundation for the study of formation mechanism of Mongolian white horse. The aim of this review is to provide some valuable references to horses coat color research and breeding.

[Subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention technique to treat long-segment occlusion of peripheral artery].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the technique details of subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention (SAFARI) to improve technical success in the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO) diseases in lower extremity when there is failure to reenter the distal true lumen. METHODS: Between May 2009 and Aug 2010, 15 patients underwent endovascular recanalization with SAFARI technique. There were 8 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 74.9 years. There were 3 patients with severe claudication (Rutherford category 3) and 12 patients with critical limb ischemia (Rutherford category 4 to 6). The clinical and follow-up data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were treated with SAFARI technique successfully. The technique success rates were 93.3%. The mean ankle brachial index increased from 0.39 to 0.83.Symptoms were relieved in 86.6% patients, Ulcer were healed in 93.3%patients. CONCLUSIONS: SAFARI technique is a safe and effective method in treating CTO diseases, when it is failure to renter the distal true lumen with subintimal angioplasty technique.

[Molecular basis and applicability in equine color genetics].

Coat color can be used not only in identifying individuals and species, but also in diagnosing certain diseases. The coat color of horse mainly depends on the distribution and proportion of eumelanin and phaeomelanin, generated by melanocytes, which are regulated by the genes such as MC1R, ASIP, KIT, TYRP, and EDNRB. In addition, STX17, MATP, and PMEL17 also play a role in the formation of coat color of horse. In this review, the action mechanism of candidate genes for coat color and association of DNA sequence polymorphism of these candidate genes with color pattern phenotypes and melanoma were summarized in details, which provides efficient theoretical support for horse breeding and control of the horse diseases.

In vitro cyto-biocompatibility and cell detachment of temperature-sensitive dextran hydrogel.

A series of poly(NIPAAm-co-GMA-Dex) hydrogels were synthesized from glycidyl methacrylate-derivatized dextran (GMA-Dex) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) in aqueous solution. The swelling properties, cell culture and detachment behaviors of these hydrogels were investigated. It has found that poly(NIPAAm-co-GMA-Dex) hydrogels are not only sensitive to temperature in deionized water and Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) (10% FBS), but also exhibit good biocompatibility. In addition, L929 cells were found to detach from the hydrogel surface naturally without affecting the function of L929 by controlling environmental temperature.

[Study of teratogenicity of hyperglycemia on neural tube defects and antagonistic effect of taurine].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of neural tube defects (NTDs) caused by hyperglycemia and thiadiazole and the antagonistic effect of taurine. METHODS: The pregnant mice were divided into hyperglycemia groups, thiadiazole group, taurine groups and control groups. The mRNA and the protein of Pax3 or Cx43 gene were detected respectively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay and immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: As compared with mice treated by thiadiazole-stomach-perfusing, NTDs were significantly increased from mice treated with glucose-injection when blood glucose levels were >or= 13.4 mmol/L. Elevated glucose and thiadiazole could cause changes in Pax3 and Cx43 expression. Hyperglycemia had stronger developmental toxicity on mice embryos. Expression of Pax3 (mRNA 0.97 +/- 0.20, protein 0.11 +/- 0.02) in hyperglycemia group was significantly decreased, while expression of Cx43 (mRNA 7.05 +/- 1.63, protein 0.94 +/- 0.05) was significantly increased, and the relationship of dose-effect was demonstrated. In the thiadiazole group, the expression of Cx43 (mRNA 6.96 +/- 0.73, protein 0.92 +/- 0.12) was significantly stronger than control groups, but there were no significant differences in expression of Pax3 between thiadiazole and its control groups. Both of their teratogenicity could be antagonized by taurine. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that congenital malformation associated with diabetic pregnancy is caused by disruption of regulatory genes, Pax3 and Cx43 expression in embryo in response to elevated glucose. Thiadiazole can only disturb the regulation of Cx43 gene causing NTDs. Taurine can correct the disruption caused by the two teratogens.