[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.

Effect of travoprost, latanoprost and bimatoprost PGF2α treatments on the biomechanical properties of in-vivo rabbit cornea.

Prostaglandin F2α analogues (PGF2α), one of the most commonly prescribed classes of hypotensive agents, could decrease collagen fibril density and remodel the extracellular matrix in cornea. We hypothesized that PGF2α's would induce corneal softening, reduce the accuracy of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and lead to uncertainty in the effectiveness of the therapy. We determined the stress-strain behavior of rabbit cornea after PGF2α usage and evaluated the effect of biomechanical changes associated with PGF2α treatment on IOP measurements by Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT).

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

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the transforming growth factor-β 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-β superfamily and the mechanisms of myostatin self-regulation.

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)--Dextran vesicle that dextran brush steric hindrance guide PCL lamellae-aligned growth was synthesized.

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.

Biomechanical Effects of Two Forms of PGF2α on Ex-vivo Rabbit Cornea.

Purpose: To investigate the biomechanical effects of two synthetic prostaglandin F2α analogues (PGF2α), namely Travoprost and Tafluprost, on the ex-vivo rabbit cornea.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-six eyes of 48 Japanese white rabbits were divided into 3 equal groups randomly; the Travoprost treated group (Tra), the Tafluprost treated group (Taf) and the control group (Co). Eyes in Tra and Taf groups were preserved in storage medium for 10 days with 1:10 Travoprost and Tafluprost diluents, respectively; while the Co eyes were preserved in a similar but PGF2α-free medium.

Experimental Evaluation of Travoprost-Induced Changes in Biomechanical Behavior of Ex-Vivo Rabbit Corneas.

: To assess the effects of prostaglandin F2α analogues travoprost on the biomechanical behavior of ex-vivo rabbit cornea. : 18 Japanese white rabbits were included in the study. The left eye (treated group, Tr) of each rabbit was preserved for 10 days in storage medium Eusol-C solution with 1:10 travoprost diluent, while the contralateral eye (control group, Co) was preserved in a similar but travoprost-free medium.

[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.

Development and clinical verification of numerical simulation for laser in situ keratomileusis.

To develop and validate numerical models of the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure through considering its effect on corneal biomechanical behavior. 3D finite element models of the human eye were developed to simulate LASIK. The models' predictions of post-operative corneal elevation, corneal refractive power with vector decomposition (M, J, J) and refractive error correction (M, J, J) were compared against clinical data obtained for 28 eyes of 28 patients.

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

We report a large-area broadband optical absorber consisting of Ag/SiO 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.

Changes in Corneal Biomechanical Properties With Different Corneal Cross-linking Irradiances.

Purpose: To evaluate whether different corneal cross-linking (CXL) irradiances, all with the same delivered total energy, achieve similar increases in corneal material stiffness.

Methods: One hundred twenty-six healthy white Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 18 each). After removing the epithelium of the left corneas, six groups were exposed to riboflavin (0.

Repeatability of corneal elevation maps in keratoconus patients using the tomography matching method.

To assess repeatability of corneal tomography in successive measurements by Pentacam in keratoconus (KC) and normal eyes based on the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. The study involved 143 keratoconic and 143 matched normal eyes. ICP algorithm was used to estimate six single and combined misalignment (CM) parameters, the root mean square (RMS) of the difference in elevation data pre (PreICP-RMS) and post (PosICP-RMS) tomography matching.

Effects of diabetes mellitus on biomechanical properties of the rabbit cornea.

To investigate the effects of diabetes on the biomechanical behavior of cornea in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in 20 rabbits using alloxan, while another 20 age- and weight-matched non-diabetic rabbits served as controls. Eyes were enucleated after 8 weeks of inducing diabetes and the whole cornea was removed with a 3 mm wide scleral ring and tested under inflation conditions with an internal pressure range of 2.

Evaluating the repeatability of corneal elevation through calculating the misalignment between Successive topography measurements during the follow up of LASIK.

The study aims to evaluate, using the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm, the repeatability of successive corneal elevation measurements taken post-LASIK. Two topography maps of 98 LASIK participants were recorded preoperatively (Pre), 1 month (Pos1M) and 3 months postoperatively (Pos3M). Elevation of the second measurement was fitted to the first measurement by calculating using ICP, and correcting for, both translational and rotational misalignment components.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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 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.

[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.