Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) afflicts extremely low birth weight neonates, and probiotics reduces its incidence and severity. Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the pathogenesis of NEC, and caveolin-1 regulates NO signaling. We tested the hypothesis that intestinal caveolin-1 and NO synthase (NOS) are deficient in formula-fed neonatal rats and that supplementation with "Florastar Kids" and/or galactoligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides preserves caveolin-1 and NOS. At birth (P0), neonatal rat pups were maternally-fed or hand-gavaged with or without supplemented formula. Samples from the terminal ileum were analyzed for total NO metabolites, growth factors, and gene expression of caveolin-1, NOS isoforms, and antioxidants. Our data showed that formula feeding with and without supplementation resulted in significant growth restriction. Despite suboptimal nutrition, growth factors involved in intestinal repair and regeneration were increased in the neonatal rat ileum. Caveolin-1, endothelial NOS and neuronal NOS were simultaneously downregulated with formula feeding while inducible NOS was upregulated. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were upregulated with supplementation. These data provide a probable mechanism for the benefits of supplemented formula for decreasing the severity of NEC by preserving the antioxidant systems.

A new high-sensitivity detection of protein assay at the nanogram level is developed based on the amplified resonance light scattering signals (RLS) of Tichromine (TCM). In Walpole (NaAc-HCl) buffer (pH 4.05), TCM reacts with proteins to form large particles, which results in remarkable enhanced RLS signals characterized by three peaks at 293nm, 399nm and 553nm. Mechanistic studies showed that the enhanced RLS stems from a large complex of TCM-BSA formed for the electrostatic effect between TCM and BSA. With the enhanced RLS signals at the three wavelengths, the enhanced RLS intensity is proportional to the concentration of proteins in an appropriate range. The lowest limit of determination was 7.4ngmL(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied to determine total protein in human serum samples.

Ultra-low threshold lasers which operate in the telecommunications band and which can be integrated with other CMOS compatible elements have numerous applications in satellite communications, biochemical detection and optical computing. To achieve sub-mW lasing thresholds, it is necessary to optimize both the gain medium and the pump method. One of the most promising methods is to use rare-earth ions in a co- or tri-dopant configuration, where the lasing of the primary dopant is enhanced by the secondary one, thus improving the efficiency of the overall system. Here, we demonstrate an Erbium:Ytterbium co-doped microcavity-based laser which is lithographically fabricated on a silicon substrate. The quality factor and pump threshold are experimentally determined for a series of erbium and ytterbium doping concentrations, verifying the inter-dependent relationship between the two dopants. The lasing threshold of the optimized device is 4.2 microW.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomical influence of the hypertrophic inferior turbinate on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of unilateral hypertrophic inferior turbinate nasal cavity, and to analyze the bilateral detailed nasal airflow simulations under both inspiratory and expiratory phases in CFD model. METHOD: One male volunteer troubled with unilateral hypertrophic inferior turbinate accepted CT scan. CFD model was built by CT scans through Simplant 10.0 and ANSYS ICEM. Fluent 6.3.26 simulated the airflow of both nasal cavity in breathing rates 200 ml/s. RESULT: 1) In infraturbinal region, the cross-section area (CSA) of the nasal cavity with hypertrophic inferior turbinate was smaller than that in healthy side and the average area difference between two sides was 1.62 cm2. 2) In both inspiration and expiration phases, the hypertrophic infraturbinal produced a markable reduction in intranasal pressures drop along the full length of the infraturbinal region. The volumetric flow rate in the hypertrophic infraturbinal side was 50 ml/s, which equalled to one third of that in healthy side; Mean airspeed in the anterior valve region was estimated to be 0.57 m/s at hypertrophic infraturbinal side and 1.83 m/s at healthy side during inspiration; More vortices happened in the hypertrophic infraturbinal side. CONCLUSION: The unilateral hypertrophic infraturbinal change the nomal anatomy and influence the aerodynamic of nasal cavity, which is harmful to the functions of human nasal in ventilation, temperature accommodation and olfactory sensation.

Fundamental frequency (F0) of our vocalization is regulated by auditory feedback. Manipulation of F0 in the auditory feedback invokes compensatory F0 response in vocalization, whose amplitude is known to depend on the task (singing or speaking; instruction to followignore the heard pitch change) and the averaged F0. In order to exclude the voluntary factor and to test if the vocal register affected the response amplitude, we used a parametric modulation of F0 according to the maximal sequence [TAF, Kawahara (1992)] and recovered an impulse response with deconvolution during vowel phonation at various averaged F0 (low, at speech fundamental frequency, high) and in two vocal registers (modal and falsetto). The normalized response amplitude increased with F0, which replicates the previous finding, while the vocal register change did not affect the response. Our findings clarify some of the characteristics of tasks dependency of the pitch control.

It is now accepted that an overwhelming inflammatory response is the cause of human deaths from avian H5N1 influenza infection. With this in mind we sought to examine the literature for examples of complementary and alternative medicines that reduce inflammation, and to place the results of this search in the context of our own work in a mouse model of influenza disease, using a pharmaceutical agent with anti-inflammatory properties. Two Chinese herbs, Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), have been recently shown to protect mice during lethal experimental sepsis via inhibition of the novel inflammatory cytokine High Mobility Group Box 1 protein (HMGB1). Biochanin A, a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) alpha and gamma and the active isoflavone in Trifolium pratense (red clover), has anti-inflammatory properties, and thus could be used as an influenza treatment. This is of great interest since we have recently shown that gemfibrozil, a drug used to treat hyperlipidemia in humans and a synthetic ligand of PPAR alpha, significantly reduces the mortality associated with influenza infections in mice. The inflammation-modulating abilities of these natural agents should be considered in light of what is now known about the mechanisms of fatal influenza, and tested as potential candidates for influenza treatments in their own right, or as adjunct treatments to antivirals.

OBJECTIVE: To explore correlation of allergy and outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. METHOD: Before ESS, 115 cases were arranged to detect allergic serum relative index: the concentration of serum TIgE, specific IgE semi-quatitative test and the concentration of serum ECP; to survey QOL status: VAS, SNOT-20 and SF-36; as well as inquire medical record, Lund-Mackay CT system scoring, clinical classification of chronic rhinosinusitis. After ESS (>1 year), 74 cases were followed up. The subjective and objective assessment were achieved by means of VAS, SNOT-20, SF-36 and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores. RESULT: The improvements of VAS scores of the cases with increased serum TIgE were significantly lower than those without increased serum TIgE (P<0.05). In cases of II, III types, the objective outcomes of the cases with increased serum TIgE were significantly worse than those without increased serum TIgE (P<0.05). The objective outcomes of the cases with positive allergen (> or = 3) were significantly worse than those with positive allergen (<3)(P<0.05). The objective outcomes of the cases with strong positive allergen were significantly worse than those without strong positive allergen (P<0.05). VAS scores and SNOT-20 scores after endoscopic sinus surgery of the cases with strong positive allergen were significantly worse than those without strong positive allergen (P<0.05). The concentration of serum ECP of the invalid cases was significantly higher than effective cases (P<0.05). The concentration of serum ECP was positive correlated with Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores (r=0.49, P<0.05). In cases of II, III types, the objective outcomes of the cases with increased serum ECP were significantly worse than those without increased serum ECP (P<0.05), VAS scores and SNOT-20 scores after endoscopic sinus surgery of the cases with increased serum ECP were significantly worse than those without incre- ased serum ECP (P<0.05), the improvements of VAS scores of the cases with increased serum ECP were significantly lower than those without increased serum ECP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Those allergic serum relative indexes make some negative effect on subjective and objective outcomes. Especially, in cases with polyps, the increase of serum TIgE and serum ECP has more negative effect. Our results might help to choose immunotherapy to combine with endoscopic sinus surgery for those selected patients to improve the outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To provide anatomic data for auditory brainstem inplantion (ABI) through the retrosigmoid approach. METHODS Simulated operations were performed on 30 web adult head specimens and the structure around the foramen of luschka was observed. Both microscope and ednoscope were employed. RESULTS (1)The bony window, the most adjacent but not overlapping with sigmoid sinus, was a circle with a radius of 20 mm. Its center was located behind midpoint of the line from parietal notch to mastoid apex with a distance of (26.42 +/- 1.29) mm. The distance between bony window and transverse sinus, mastoid apex, foramen of luschka, jugular foramen, posterior edge of internal auditory meatus and root entry zone of the IX cranial nerve were (22.45 +/- 1.41) mm,(35.51 +/- 1.65) mm,(43.86 +/- 2.20)mm,(16.56 +/- 1.64)mm,(15.01 +/- 0.63)mm and (46.27 +/- 1.70)mm respectively;(2) The foramen of luschka can be spotted by using microscope or endoscope, especially 30 degrees angled endoscope. By this way, we could obtain a more distinct visual field without over-retraction of cerebellum and achieve the goal of minimally invasive surgery. The idstance between the foramen of luschka and internal acoustic porus was (15.01 +/- 0.53) mm;(3) The foramen of luschka lies in the triangle formed by flocculus and root entry zone of glossopharyngeal nerve and rostral margin of biventer lobule. Choroids plexus acts as a direct landmark. the length of lateral recess was (17.53 +/- 1.03) mm. The distance between acoustic tubercle and the foramen of luschka and the root of cochlea vever was (16.52 +/- 1.67) mm and (13.77 +/- 1.66) mm respectively. CONCLUSION Adjustment of the angle of skull bone window and clarification of cerebellopontine angle are the keys to positioning the foramen of luschka. The usage of 30 degrees angled endoscope can identify the angle are the keys to positioning the foramen of luschka. The usage of 30 degrees angled endoscope can identify the foramen of luschka more accurately and expose the poeration area more clearly.

Abstract Chronic hypoxia induces proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs), leading to remodeling and pulmonary hypertension, but the mechanism remains unclear. The present study tested the roles of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoKATP) and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) on hPASMCs under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Our results demonstrated that diazoxide or hypoxia alone, or both in combination, could depolarize DeltaPsim through opening mitoKATP, release of cytochrome C and over-production of hydrogen peroxide by mitochondria, resulting in increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of hPASMCs. Five-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) could partly reduce these hypoxia-dependent responses. These results suggest that the opening of mitoKATP followed by a depolarization of DeltaPsim might play an important role in hypoxic proliferation of hPASMCs through cytochrome C accumulation within the mitochondria and/or mitochondrial overproduction of hydrogen peroxide.

OBJECTIVE: A low-hemorrhage-risk surgical approach to expose the optic nerve (ON) in rabbits through the orbital process of the frontal bone without removal of the bony orbit and resection of the rectus muscle was explored and assessed in this study. This approach will be used to investigate a new visual prosthesis that requires intraorbital ON stimulation with penetrating electrodes. Animals Chinese Albino rabbits (n = 10). METHODS: Rabbits were classified into a surgery and a control group (five in each). In the surgery group, the ON exposure was explored by the newly proposed surgical approach. Surgical time, blood loss, visually evoked potentials (VEP) at four different scheduled time points, and H&E-stained histology of the ON at one month after surgery were recorded and analyzed to assess the ease and safety of the approach. RESULTS: The average surgical time for the ON exposure was 16.40 +/- 1.14 min with average blood loss of 0.52 +/- 0.08 mL. Within the one-month follow-up, the ON exhibited a naturally reversible conduction change in terms of VEP amplitude. Histological examination of the ON was unremarkable. A postoperative mild ptosis of the surgical eye resolved within one month after surgery. CONCLUSION: The ease and safety of this new surgical approach allowed it to be easily used by non-expert operators and widely applied in rabbit experiments for various research purposes requiring exposure of the ON.