Neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat sodium hydrate prevents ischemia–reperfusion injury in the rat bladder

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat sodium hydrate on ischemia–reperfusion injury in the rat bladder. Rat abdominal aorta was clamping with a small clip to induce ischemia–reperfusion injury in the bladder. Eight-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; sham-operated control rats, 30 min ischemia–60 min reperfusion (IR) rats, and IR rats treated with 15 or 60 mg/kg of sivelestat sodium hydrate. Sixty minutes prior to induction of ischemia, sivelestat sodium hydrate was administrated intraperitoneally. Real-time monitoring of blood flow and nitric oxide (NO) release were measured simultaneously with a laser Doppler flowmeter and an NO-selective electrode, respectively. The NO₂–NO₃ and malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in the experimental urinary bladders. Clamping of the abdominal aorta, blood flow was rapidly decreased and NO release was gradually increased. After removing the clip, blood flow was rapidly increased and NO release was gradually returned to the basal level. These movements of blood flow and NO release were inhibited by treatment with sivelestat sodium hydrate in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO₂–NO₃ and MDA concentrations in the bladder were increased by induction of IR, and NO₂–NO₃ and MDA concentrations were decreased by treatment with high dose of sivelestat sodium hydrate significantly. Our data indicated that sivelestat sodium hydrate could inhibit increasing NO₂–NO₃ and MDA concentrations by IR, and it has potentiality protective effects on IR injury in the rat urinary bladder.     

The efficacy of a technology-based system in a short-term behavioral weight loss intervention

Objective: The objective was to examine the efficacy of adding a technology‐based program to an in‐person, behavioral weight loss intervention. Research Methods and Procedures: Fifty‐seven subjects (BMI = 33.1 ± 2.8 kg/m²; age = 41.3 ± 8.7 years) participated in a 12‐week intervention with random assignment to Standard In‐Person Behavioral Weight Control Program (SBWP) or Intermittent or Continuous Technology‐Based Program (INT‐TECH, CON‐TECH). SBWP subjects received seven individualized weight loss sessions encouraging dietary and exercise modifications. INT‐TECH and CON‐TECH subjects received all SBWP components; additionally, these groups used a SenseWear Pro Armband (BodyMedia, Inc.) to monitor energy expenditure and an Internet‐based program to monitor eating behaviors. These features were used by INT‐TECH subjects during weeks 1, 5, and 9 and CON‐TECH subjects weekly throughout the intervention. Results: Intent‐to‐treat analysis revealed weight loss of 4.1 ± 2.8 kg, 3.4 ± 3.4 kg, and 6.2 ± 4.0 kg, for SBWP, INT‐TECH, and CON‐TECH groups, respectively (CON‐TECH > INT‐TECH, p ≤ 0.05). Discussion: These results indicate that the technology‐based program needs to be used continuously throughout the intervention period to significantly impact weight loss. Future studies should examine the long‐term and independent effect of this technology on weight loss, and for whom this intervention format is most effective.     

Presence of robust circadian clock oscillation under constitutive over-expression of mCry1 in rat-1 fibroblasts

In mammals, mCRY proteins are essential and are major negative elements in circadian feedback loops. In this study, robust circadian clock oscillation was present even under conditions with constitutive over-expression of mCry1 in rat-1 cells. Rat-1 cells were produced to stably express mPer2 promoter-driven luciferase reporter, in which mCry1 was overexpressed under a tetracycline-dependent gene expression (Tet-On) system. Using these cells, we show that circadian clock oscillations in rat-1 fibroblasts persist when the mCRY1 protein constitutively accumulates in the nuclei.     

基于OCT技术的鼠皮肤激光热损伤修复过程的监测

采用Er:YAG激光(波长为2 940 nm,能量密度为:2.5 J/cm2单光斑,扫描次数为4)照射活体小白鼠皮肤,利用光学相干层析成像(optical coherence tomography,OCT)技术在活体小鼠上观察其皮肤组织在激光作用之前及作用之后光热损伤修复的整个过程,得到了激光光热作用下引起损伤的皮肤组织在此过程中皮肤光学特性参数的变化情况,发现皮肤修复过程中光学参数有显著差异,并分析了这些差异引起的原因,以揭示激光美容中并发症主要因素。     

Physical activity level and its clinical correlates in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study

Background

Decreased physical activity is associated with higher mortality in subjects with COPD. The aim of this study was to assess clinical characteristics and physical activity levels (PALs) in subjects with COPD.

Methods

Seventy-three subjects with COPD (67 ± 7 yrs, 44 female) with one-second forced expiratory volume percentage (FEV₁%) predicted values of 43 ± 16 were included. The ratio of total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) was used to define the physical activity level (PAL) (PAL = TEE/RMR). TEE was assessed with an activity monitor (ActiReg), and RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry. Walking speed (measured over 30-meters), maximal quadriceps muscle strength, fat-free mass and systemic inflammation were measured as clinical characteristics. Hierarchical linear regression was applied to investigate the explanatory values of the clinical correlates to PAL.

Results

The mean PAL was 1.47 ± 0.19, and 92% of subjects were classified as physically very inactive or sedentary. The walking speed was 1.02 ± 0.23 m/s, the quadriceps strength was 31.3 ± 11.2 kg, and the fat-free mass index (FFMI) was 15.7 ± 2.3 kg/m², identifying 42% of subjects as slow walkers, 21% as muscle-weak and 49% as FFM-depleted. The regression model explained 45.5% (p < 0.001) of the variance in PAL. The FEV₁% predicted explained the largest proportion (22.5%), with further improvements in the model from walking speed (10.1%), muscle strength (7.0%) and FFMI (3.0%). Neither age, gender nor systemic inflammation contributed to the model.

Conclusions

Apart from lung function, walking speed and muscle strength are important correlates of physical activity. Further explorations of the longitudinal effects of the factors characterizing the most inactive subjects are warranted.     

Real-time monitoring of nitric oxide and blood flow during ischemia-reperfusion in the rat testis

In the present study, we attempted to clarify the role of nitric oxide (NO) and its release during the ischemia-reperfusion rat testis. Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: age-matched control rats, ischemia (30 minutes)-reperfusion (30 minutes) rats without N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and L-arginine (L-Arg) treatment, ischemia (30 minutes)-reperfusion (30 minutes) rats treated with L-NAME (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), ischemia-reperfusion rats treated with L-Arg (10 and 30 mg/kg). Sixty minutes prior to induction of ischemia, L-NAME or L-Arg was administrated intraperitoneally. Real-time monitoring of blood flow and NO release were measured simultaneously with a laser Doppler flowmeter and an NO-selective electrode, respectively. NO₂-NO₃ and malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in the experimental testes. Furthermore, we investigated possible morphological changes in the testis. Clamping of the testicular artery decreased blood flow to 5–20% of the basal level measured before clamping. Immediately following clipping of the artery, NO release rapidly increased. After removing the clip, NO release gradually returned to the basal level. This phenomenon was enhanced by treatment with L-Arg and inhibited by treatment with L-NAME. NO₂-NO₃ concentrations were increased by treatment with L-Arg and decreased by treatment with L-NAME, while MDA concentrations were increased by treatment with L-NAME and were decreased by treatment with L-Arg. In histological studies, the ischemia-reperfusion caused infiltration of leukocytes and a rupture of microvessels in the testis. Our data suggest that NO has cytoprotective effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat testis.     

基于蓝牙4.0的便携式睡眠监测仪的研制

目的:实时监测睡眠状况,从而帮助人们特别是老人找到影响睡眠的原因。方法:设计了一个低功耗便携式睡眠监测仪,它是通过加速度传感器采集腕动信号、蓝牙4.0低功耗无线传输、Micro-SD卡存储、上位机显示等实现对睡眠状态的检测。为了验证睡眠监测仪的准确性,本文采用了视频分析方法,并且对不同人群进行监测。结果:研制的睡眠监测仪具有便携低功耗等特点,能够准确监测睡眠状态。结论:睡眠监测仪的研制对使用者特别是老人帮助很大,能够帮助使用者方便适时了解自己的睡眠状况,找到影响睡眠原因和改善睡眠质量方法。     

校园空气微生物浓度的监测与分析

了解大学校园四季空气微生物浓度及其变化趋势.采用撞击式采样器,在人员负荷最大、活动最频繁时,对某大学校园空气中细菌菌落总数和霉菌菌落总数进行检测.校园空气微生物浓度在季节间有很大不同,总的趋势是夏季最高,春秋次之.浓度比较高的功能区有道路、寝室、食堂、超市、体育馆和教室.校园空气微生物浓度在多种因素的综合影响下,季节间...     

性诱剂监测吉林省水稻二化螟成虫动态及发生世代研究

1998～1999年在吉林省用性诱剂水盆监测二化螟雄蛾季节动态和发生世代,结果发现,1998年长春市越冬代成虫始见期在5月电旬,柳河县在5月底左右,长春市成虫终见期。1998和1999年分别为9月下旬和上旬。可见长春市二化螟成虫伞季活动朔可能长达4个月,而1个世代的历期约为2个月。1999年长春市出现两个相距55天的明显蛾峰,表明存在相当高的二代转化率,从而有助于改变该地二化螟常年只发生1代的传统观点。