Effects of diquafosol sodium in povidone iodine-induced dry eye model.

Aim: To investigate the effects of diquafosol sodium (DQS) for dry eye model induced with povidone-iodine (PI) solution.

Methods: Ten Sprague Dawley rats as the control group. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish the dry eye model with stimulation of 10 g/L PI for 14d, then divided rats into three groups: dry eye group with no treatment (DED group, =10); phosphate buffer saline treated group (PBS group, =10); diquafosol treated group (DQS group, =10).

Thymic tuft cells: potential "regulators" of non-mucosal tissue development and immune response.

As the leading central immune organ, the thymus is where T cells differentiate and mature, and plays an essential regulatory role in the adaptive immune response. Tuft cells, as chemosensory cells, were first found in rat tracheal epithelial, later gradually confirmed to exist in various mucosal and non-mucosal tissues. Although tuft cells are epithelial-derived, because of their wide heterogeneity, they show functions similar to cholinergic and immune cells in addition to chemosensory ability.

Chaos generated in a semiconductor microcavity.

The dynamics of chaos in quantum systems has attracted much interest in connection with the fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. We study the chaotic dynamics of both the excitonic mode and the cavity mode in a microcavity containing a quantum well driven by an external field. We investigate how the chaotic dynamics is influenced by the frequencies of the exciton and the cavity, the coupling constant between the exciton and cavity, the Coulomb interaction between excitons, and the response of the exciton to the cavity and the external field.

Effects of intensive insulin therapy on the retinal microvasculature in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective observational study.

Background: We examined the retinal microvascular changes and associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) before and after intensive insulin therapy.

Methods: This prospective observational study recruited patients with T2DM and divided them into intensive insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agent groups. All patients enrolled in this study had diabetes without retinopathy or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

[Comprehensive evaluation of the evolution of ecological network structure in Tianjin, China from a multi-dimensional perspective.].

Based on the construction of ecological network in Tianjin in 2000, 2010 and 2020, we evaluated the structural evolution of Tianjin ecological network from the multi-dimensional perspective of source-corridor-node-whole, using complex network evaluation index and landscape pattern index integrated with the stability, uniformity and connectivity indices. The results showed that from 2000 to 2020, the ecological source areas in Tianjin significantly shrank and degraded, be uneven in spatial distribution. Ecological corridors became sparse.

Role of circular RNA expression in the pathological progression after spinal cord injury.

Differential expression of non-coding RNA after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is closely related to the pathophysiological process. The purposes of this study were to systematically profile and characterize expression of circular RNA (circRNA) in the lesion epicenter of spinal tissues after TSCI, and predict the structure and potential function of the regulatory circRNA/miRNA network. Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: one subjected to TSCI at T8-10 with an Allen's drop impactor, and a second subjected to laminectomy without TSCI.

Predictive value of a nomogram for melanomas with brain metastases at initial diagnosis.

Background: Estimation of incidence and prognosis of melanomas with brain metastases (MBM) at initial diagnosis based on a large cohort is lacking in current research. This study aims to construct an effective prognostic nomogram for newly diagnosed MBM.

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with melanomas from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program between 2010 and 2014 were enrolled in our study.

[Detection of 11 Organophosphate Pesticides and Atrazine in Water by Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry].

Objective: To develop a method for detecting 11 organophosphate pesticides and atrazine in water samples by dispersive liquidliquid microextraction combined with gas chromatographymass spectrometry (DLLMEGC/MS) .

Methods: DLLME and GCMS parameters were optimized for efficient extraction of chemicals. The proposed method was used for detecting organophosphate pesticides in tap water and river water samples,with 200 μL of dimethylbenzene as extractant and 800 μL of methanol as dispersant.

Different modes of synergistic toxicities between metam/copper (II) and metam/zinc (II) in HepG2 cells: apoptosis vs. necrosis.

Both metam sodium and copper/zinc-containing compounds are widely used as fungicides. They therefore may co-occur in the biosphere. Despite certain studies of individual toxicity for either metam or copper (II)/zinc (II), their synergistic toxicity has not been examined.

Wogonin suppresses osteopontin expression in adipocytes by activating PPARα.

Aim: Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), a major bioactive compound of the flavonoid family, is commonly extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and is assumed to have anti-diabetes function. Indeed, a current study has shown that it can possibly treat metabolic disorders such as those found in db/db mice. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in rats attenuates ischemia-reperfusion testicular injury through blockade of oxidative stress, suppression of inflammation, and reduction of nitric oxide formation.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic utility of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism, we tested whether HBO therapy provided rescue of the testes after torsion in rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, control plus HBO therapy, I/R group, and I/R plus HBO therapy. The I/R model was induced by torsion of the right testis.

Total parathyroidectomy combined with partial auto-transplantation for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Drug treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic renal failure may be available at the early stage of the disease, but it is not as effective for serious patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of total parathyroidectomy combined with forearm autotransplantation in the uremic patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: From September 1999 through September 2006, parathroidectomy and autotransplantation was performed in 20 patients.