Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the heart anatomic and histological structure of the Banna mini-pig inbred-lined and to provide the morphological data for heart xenotransplantation and breeding transgens pig. METHODS: Ten Banna mini-pigs (12-18 months old) were affused and fixed by common coratid artery. The heart were observed and measured by gross anatomy and histology. RESULTS: There were many similarities between the Banna pig heart and the human heart in anatomy and histology. However, the following differences were observed in the Banna pig heart: 1. Azygos vein directly drew into right atrium cordis. 2. The intercalated disk of cardiac muscle was less than that of human. 3. The Purkinje’s fibre was bigger than that of human. CONCLUSION: On the morphology and histology, the structure of Banna pig heart is similar to the heart of human being. It is possible that Banna minipig heart becomes organ donors for xenotransplantation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of DNA methylation before and after bariatric surgery.MethodThe relevant literatures of the research on the changes of DNA methylation level and gene expression regulation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsDNA methylation was an important method of epigenetic regulation in organisms and its role in bariatric surgery had been paid more and more attention in recent years. Existing studies had found that there were changes of DNA methylation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery. The degree of methylation varies with different follow-up time after bariatric surgery and the same gene had different degrees of methylation in different tissues, and some even had the opposite results.ConclusionsDNA methylation levels before and after bariatric surgery are different in different tissues. And studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up time are needed, to further reveal relationship among DNA methylation, obesity, and bariatric surgery.
ObjectiveTo observe the disease-causing genes and the inheritance in sporadic retinitis pigmentosa (sRP) in Ningxia region. Methods49 sRP patients and 128 family members were recruited for this study. All the patients and family members received complete ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography, visual field, optic coherence tomography, full view electroretinogram. DNA was extracted from patients and family members. Using exon combined target region capture sequencing chip to screen the 230 candidate disease-causing gene mutations, polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to confirm the disease-causing mutations. Results24/49 patients (49.0%) had identified disease-causing genes, totally 16 genes were involved. There were 41 mutation sites were found, including 32 new mutations (78.0%). The disease-causing genes include USH2A, C2orf71, GNGA1, RPGR1, IFT140, TULP1, CLRN1, RPE65, ABCA4, GUCA1, EYS, CYP4V2, GPR98 and ATXN7. Based on pedigree analysis, 20 patients were autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, 3 patients were autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and 1 patient was X linked retinitis pigmentosa. 3/7 patients with USH2A mutations were identified as Usher syndrome. ConclusionsUSHZA is the main disease-causing of sRP patients in Ningxia region. 83.3% of sRP in this cohort are autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.
Objective To detect the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC-1R) and the melanin contents in human skin autografts and the normal skin, to elucide the role of MC-1R in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts. Methods Skin autografts and normal skin samples were obtained from skin graft on neck who need reoperation to release contractures after 1 year of operations. Immunohistochemical technique was performed to detect the expression and distribution of MC-1R in skin autografts(include full thickenss skin autografts, medium thickness skin autografts, and razorthin skin autografts) and normal skin respectively. MassonFontana staining technique was performedto detect the melanin contents in all sorts specimens respectively. Results The expression of MC-1R was located on cell membrane and cytoplasm of melanocyte and keratinocyte in epidermal. The expression of MC-1R in most skin autografts was much ber than that of control normal skins; the thinnerskin autografts were, the more obvious expressions of MC-1R in skin autografts were. The expressions of MC-1R in all sorts of skinautografts were of significant differences compared with that in normal skins(P＜0.01); the expression of MC-1R in normal skin of donor area was no significant differences compared with normal skin around recipient area(P＞0.01). The contents of melanin in skin autografts were increased obviously and there were significantdifferences compared with that in normal skins(P＜0.01); the contents of melanin among all sorts of skin autografts were of significant differences (P＜0.01). The thinner skin autografts were, the more melanin contents in skin autografts. The expression of MC-1R was positively correlated with the contents ofmelanin in epidermis. Conclusion The expression of MC-1R in skin autografts is significantly higher than that in normal skin and is correlated positively with the contents of melanin in skin autografts. Overexpression of MC-1R may play an important role in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.
OBJECTIVE: To provide an ideal method for repairing the circular cicatricial contracture of thigh. METHODS: Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) island flaps was elevated based only on the deep inferior epigastric artery and vein and transferred to cover the thigh wound after scar had been resected. RESULTS: Four DIEP island flaps was applied clinically and all flaps survived. The size of the flaps ranged from (8 cm x 28 cm) to (11 cm x 32 cm). Venous return and edema had been obviously improved postoperatively. There was no abdominal weakness and hernia in the donor sites. CONCLUSION: DIEP flap not only retains the advantages of TRAM flap such as good blood supply and rich tissue volume, but also preserves the integrity of the rectus abdominis muscle. DIEP island flap is a good material for repair of the circular cicatricial contracture of the thigh.
Objective To provide the anatomical basis for the appl ication of the superficial inferior epigastric artery flap. Methods Ten cadavers which were immersed in formal in less than 6 months and were perfused by red latex were used in this study. There were 8 males and 2 females with an average age of 58 years (range, 35-78 years). The origin, course, branch,distribution, diameter, pedicle length, and neighbour of superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein were observed in the 2 sides of inguinal region. Results In these series of 10 cadaver (20 sides) dissections, the superficial inferior epigastric artery was identified in 18 sides, which average cal iber was 1.48 mm with a mean vascular pedicle length of 4.80 cm. In 11 sides, the superficial inferior epigastric artery arose aspart of a common trunk with one or more other vessels; in other 7, it originated from the femoral. There were 4 branch modes of superficial inperior epigastric artery: single trunks (5 sides), double ramification (3 sides), single lateral ramification (7 sides), and single medial ramification (3 sides). The superficial inferior epigastric vein was observed in 20 sides, which average cal iber was 2.33 mm with a mean sides pedicle length of 5.45 cm. In 8 sides, the venous drainage was as an individual vein; in 12 sides, both patterns were observed (a pair of venae comitantes and an individual vein). Conclusion The inferior epigastric artery flap can be appl ied to microsurgical flap transfer, potentially in breast reconstruction, phalloplasty, reconstruction of head, neck and four l imbs defects.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of subretinal injection of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells for RPE in mice. MethodsA total of 30 postnatal day 7 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal mice group, OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group, 10 mice in each group. The OIR model was induced in mice of OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group. The RPE cells were subretinal injected into the RPE of mice in OIR model cell transplanted group. At 20 days after the injection, the RPE thickness was evaluated by fluorescence microscope. The expression of RPE65, Bestrophin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were estimated by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). ResultsThe thickness of RPE in OIR model mice was thinner than that in normal mice; the thickness of RPE in OIR model cell transplantation mice was significantly thicker than that in the OIR model mice. The results of Western blot and RT-PCR indicated that the differences of protein (F=8.597, 18.864, 25.691) and mRNA expression (F=39.458, 11.461, 34.796) of RPE65, Bestrophin, ZO-1 were statistically significant between OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group (P < 0.05). ConclusionsSubretinal injection of RPE cells can promote RPE thickening. RPE65 and Bestrophin protein relative expression levels increased, ZO-1 protein relative expression levels reduced; mRNA expression levels of RPE65, Bestrophin and ZO-1 genes increased.
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on restenosis of the vein graft. Methods Totally 90 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided a the control group, a vein graft group and an EGCG+vein graft group. At week 1, 2 and 4, the intimal and tunica thickness of the venous graft wall was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression of Ki-67 was assessed by immunohistochemistry analysis, and then the expression of hairy and enhancer of split-1 (HES1) was measured by Western blot assay. Results At week 2, the intimal thickness (46.76±4.89 μmvs. 8.93±0.82 μm, 46.76±4.89 μmvs. 34.24±3.57 μm), tunica thickness (47.28±4.37vs. 16.33±1.52 μm, 47.28±4.37vs. 36.27±3.29 μm), positive cell rate of Ki-67 (21.59%±2.29%vs. 1.12%±0.22%, 21.59%±2.29%vs. 15.38%±1.30%), expression of HES1 respectively increased in the experimental group than those in the control group and the EGCG+vein graft group (P<0.05, respectively). At week 4, the intimal thickness (66.38±6.23 μmvs. 8.29±0.79 μm, 66.38±6.23 μmvs. 48.39±4.23 μm), tunica thickness (63.27±6.18 μmvs. 15.29±1.49 μm, 63.27±6.18 μmvs. 44.63±4.49 μm), positive cell rate of Ki-67 (33.19%±3.03%vs. 1.09%±0.19%, 33.19%±3.03%vs. 24.37%±2.73%), expression of HES1 increased in the experimental group than those in the control group and EGCG+vein graft group (P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion EGCG may inhibite restenosis of vein graft by inhibiting Notch signal pathway.
PURPOSE:Investigating on histopathologic changes of the photoreceptors in retinitis pigmentosa. METHODS:Observation of the photoreceptors of retinitis pigmentosa in 11 eyes among 9 cases using light and electron microscope. RESULTS: The pathologic changes of the photoreceptors were found to be mostly marded at the equatorial area and less at the periphery,posterior pole and macular region of the retina. In relatively early cases,degeneration and shortening of outer segments,reduction or loss of connecting cilia,stubby inner segments and swollen mitochondria Were the predominant findings. In advanced cases,the inner and outer segments and connecting cilia were diminished with reduction of nuclei in number and disarangement,cellular degeneration and disorganization. The outer limiting membrane adhered to RPE or Bruch membrane. The spaces left over by the above pathologic changes were replaced by the displaced Muuml;ller cells and their hypertrophic processes. Also there were degeneration of the RPE cells,and some of them might migrate into the retina. CONCLUSION:Obvious invasions of pathologic processes in photoreceptors of the retina did present in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12:160-162）