Assessing the diagnostic accuracy of immunodiagnostic techniques in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica: a meta-analysis.

Immunodiagnostic tests are commonly used in the diagnosis for schistosomiasis japonica in field situation. Their diagnostic effect, however, has never been evaluated in a systematic way. We set out to review the value of tests including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica.

Viability loss pattern under rapid dehydration of Antiaris toxicaria axes and its relation to oxidative damage.

The relation between oxidative damage and viability loss of excised embryonic axes of Antiaris toxicaria subjected to rapid drying with silica gel at 15 degrees C was studied. Changes of survival rate, accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and the permeability of cell membrane that was determined as relative electrolyte leakage (REL) were measured. The half-life moisture content (MC(L50)) was 0.

Intrinsic biological property of colloidal fullerene nanoparticles (nC60): lack of lethality after high dose exposure to human epidermal and bacterial cells.

Colloidal fullerene nanoparticles (nC60) were reported to be toxic to fish brains, human cells and microorganisms, while new observations suggest that the observed toxicity may be due to tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent or its oxidative by-products in nC60 preparations. Here, we report a novel method for preparing nC60 nanoparticles that does not use THF solvent, but provides nC60 with an average particle size of 43.8 nm and a yield approximately 100 times higher than the THF method.

Evaluation of perfused porcine skin as a model system to quantitate tissue distribution of fullerene nanoparticles.

Nanomaterials are increasingly playing a role in society for uses ranging from biomedicine to microelectronics, however pharmacokinetic studies, which will be necessary for human health risk assessments, are limited. Tissue distribution, one component of pharmacokinetics, can be assessed by quantifying arterial extraction of materials in an isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF). The objective of this study was to assess the IPPSF as a model system to quantitate the distribution of fullerene nanoparticles (nC(60)) from the vascular space into tissues.

Phase transition in salt-free catanionic surfactant mixtures induced by temperature.

Aggregate transitions in salt-free catanionic surfactant mixtures of tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH)/fatty acid were investigated as a function of surfactant concentration and temperature. Lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA), and palmitic acid (PA) were chosen for the current study. The TTAOH/LA mixture exhibited rich phase behavior at room temperature.

Skin penetration and kinetics of pristine fullerenes (C60) topically exposed in industrial organic solvents.

Pristine fullerenes (C60) in different solvents will be used in many industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturing and derivatizing processes. This report explores the impact of solvents on skin penetration of C60 from different types of industrial solvents (toluene, cyclohexane, chloroform and mineral oil). Yorkshire weanling pigs (n=3) were topically dosed with 500 microL of 200 microg/mL C60 in a given solvent for 24 h and re-dosed daily for 4 days to simulate the worst scenario in occupational exposures.

Incorporation of carbon nanotubes into a lyotropic liquid crystal by phase separation in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were incorporated into a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) matrix formed by n-dodecyl octaoxyethene monoether (C(12)E(6)) at room temperature through spontaneous phase separation induced by nonionic hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The quality of SWNTs/LLC composite was evaluated by polarized microscopy observations and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. The results obtained clearly indicated that SWNTs have been successfully incorporated into the LLC matrix up to a considerable high content without destroying the LLC matrix, although interesting changes of the LLC matrix were also induced by SWNTs incorporation.

Mitochondrial damage in the soybean seed axis during imbibition at chilling temperatures.

The development of mitochondria during seed germination is essential for plant growth. However, the developmental process is still poorly understood. Temperature plays a key role in soybean germination, and in this study we characterized the mitochondrial ultrastructure and proteome after imbibition at 22, 10 and 4 degrees C for 24 h.

MMP9 is involved in glycation end-products induced increase of retinal vascular permeability in rats and the therapeutic effect of minocycline.

Purpose: To determine the role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) induced damage to blood-retinal barrier (BRB) and the therapeutic effects of minocycline, an MMP inhibitor, against the BRB damages.

Methods: Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups (16/group): A control group treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA), an AGE-BSA treated group, and a group treated with minocycline after AGE-BSA treatment. The retinas of all the animals were collected 2 weeks after treatment, and the levels of MMP9 protein and mRNA were detected by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

[Effect of insulin on VEGF expression in bovine retinal microvascular endothelial cells exposed to normal or high glucose].

Objective: To investigate the effect of insulin or (and) high glucose on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in bovine retinal microvascular endothelial cells (BREC).

Methods: It was a experimental study. BREC were cultured with selective culture media.

Quantification of chemical mixture interactions modulating dermal absorption using a multiple membrane fiber array.

Dermal exposures to chemical mixtures can potentially increase or decrease systemic bioavailability of toxicants in the mixture. Changes in dermal permeability can be attributed to changes in physicochemical interactions between the mixture, the skin, and the solute of interest. These physicochemical interactions can be described as changes in system coefficients associated with molecular descriptors described by Abraham's linear solvation energy relationship (LSER).

Binocular status after surgery for constant and intermittent exotropia.

Purpose: To investigate whether constant exotropia patients with a previous history of intermittent exotropia X(T), like X(T) patients, can achieve postoperative bifixation, and whether they have a better postoperative sensory outcome than those without previous history of X(T).

Design: Prospective comparative clinical study.

Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients with intermittent or constant exotropia were divided into three groups: X(T) (group 1), constant exotropia with a previous history of X(T) (group 2), and constant exotropia without previous history of X(T) (group 3).

Expression modification of uncoupling proteins and MnSOD in retinal endothelial cells and pericytes induced by high glucose: the role of reactive oxygen species in diabetic retinopathy.

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial transporters present in the inner membrane of mitochondria. They belong to the family of anion mitochondrial carriers. UCPs could act as proton carriers activated by metabolites and create a shunt between complexes of the respiratory chain and ATP synthase.

[Subretinal transplantation of human fetal lung fibroblasts expressed ciliary neurotrophic factor gene prevent photoreceptor degeneration in RCS rats].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of subretinal transplantation of CNTF gene transfected fibroblasts for preventing photoreceptor degeneration in RCS.

Methods: The human fetal lung fibroblasts with high level expression of CNTF were established by liposome mediated gene transfer and MTX selection. A 5 microl of cell suspension, containing 1 x 10(5) cells, was injected through pars plana of ciliary body into the subretinal space of the right eye at postnatal 4-5 weeks, the left eye was left without injection or injected with PBS as controls.

Effect of fenofibrate on the level of asymmetric dimethylarginine in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia.

Objective: To test whether treatment with fenofibrate decreases asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level in hypertriglyceridemic individuals.

Methods: In the present study, 45 subjects with hypertriglyceridemia were recruited to receive treatment with fenofibrate (200 mg/d). Serum concentrations of ADMA, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured.

[Separation of correctly refolded and mis-refolded consensus interferon by hydrophobic interaction chromatography].

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography was used to separate correctly refolded and mis-refolded consensus interferon. The effects of ligand types, salt concentration, pH and flow rate were investigated. The best result could be obtained by using Butyl Sepharose 4 Fast Flow, 0.

Influence of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration on the course of acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate whether continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) in different filtration rate to eliminate cytokines would result in different efficiency in acute pancreatitis, whether the saturation time of filter membrane was related to different filtration rate, and whether the onset time of CVVH could influence the survival of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients were classified into four groups randomly. Group 1 underwent low-volume CVVH within 48 h of the onset of abdominal pain (early CVVH, n = 9).

Role of protein kinase C on the alteration of retinal endothelin-1 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of PKC on the alteration of retinal endothelin-1 in 2-week streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The measurement of retinal PKC activities from membranous and cytosolic fractions was conducted by ELISA.

[Protective effects of transplantation of hCNTF-transfected cell line on axotomy-induced degeneration of retinal ganglion cells].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of transplantation of cell line stably expressing and secreting human ciliary neurotrophic factor (hCNTF) on the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve transection.

Methods: Plasmid encoding hCNTF was transfected into human lung fibroblast (HLF) cell line, then the stably transfected clones were selected with methopterin. In adult SD rats, RGCs were labeled with retrograde axonal tracer fluorogold (FG) injected to their targets including dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei (dLGN) and superior colliculi (SC).

[Changes of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with virus encephalitis].

Objective: To explore the changes of cerebral hemodynomics in patients with virus encephalitis (VE).

Methods: Within the initial 24 h and 21 days after admission, respectively, the patients with acute VE (n=38) suspected to result from viral infections were examined with serial transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) for measurements of the systolic flow velocity (Vs), mean blood velocity (Vm) and the pulsatility index (PI) in the middle, anterior and posterior cerebral arteries (MCA, ACA, PCA) and the basilar artery (BA).

Results: TCD showed normal findings in 11 and abnormal findings in 27 patients, with a positivity rate of 71%.

[Subretinal transplantation of genetically modified human retinal pigment epithelium cells delay photoreceptor degeneration and functional deterioration in rats].

Objective: To investigate whether subretinal transplantation of genetically modified human retinal pigment epithelium cells can rescue photoreceptor degeneration in RCS rats.

Methods: A spontaneously derived adult human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line (CRL-2302) was infected by gfp retrovirus, then transfected by liposome mediated CNTF expression plasmid transfer. Around 1 x 10(5) genetic modified cells were injected to subretinal space of the right eye at 4 - 5 weeks old, the left eye was left without injection or injected with PBS as controls.

Blood-retinal barrier breakdown induced by activation of protein kinase C via vascular endothelial growth factor in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Purpose: To investigate (1) the mechanism of blood-retinal barrier breakdown induced by protein kinase C (PKC) activation (2) the relationship between PKC activation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 2-week streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Methods: Retinal PKC activities, retinal and vitreous concentration of VEGF protein were conducted by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Retinal VEGF mRNA expression was analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Characterization of polyacrylate membrane-coated fibers used in chemical absorption studies with programmed thermal treatment and FT-IR microscopy.

A polyacrylate (PA) film was coated onto a fused-silica fiber as a permeation membrane in a membrane-coated fiber (MCF) technique and a solid-phase microextraction technique. The molecular changes of the PA membrane after different temperature treatments were studied with FT-IR microscopy. The absorption bands of the PA aliphatic backbone at 2902, 2795, and 2740 cm(-)(1) remained unchanged over the elevated thermal treatments, indicating that the polymer backbone was stable over these conditions.

[Liposome-mediated gene transfer into retina].

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of liposome mediated gene transfer to retina, the time of gene expression in retinal cells, retinal damage caused by liposome and the possibility of using liposome mediated gene transfer to retina for treating fundus diseases.

Methods: The ratio of cationic liposome to green fluorescein protein (GFP) expression plasmid for high efficacy of transfection was tested in vitro. Then optimal liposome-plasmid mixture was injected into the subretinal space of Sprague-Dawley (SD) or Royal college of surgeon (RCS) rats.