Objective To review the advances of functional electrical stimulation(FES) in treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Methods By index of recent literature, the measures of stimulation, the mechanisms of FES and unsolved problems were evaluated and analyzed. Results Great advances have been made in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. It can not only enhance the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve, but also prevent muscular atrophy. Conclusion FES is an effective treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.
Objective To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects and the mechanisms of pyrrol idine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the atrophy of denervated skeletal muscle. Methods Thirty adult Wistar rats of either gender, weighing (200 ± 10) g were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A (n=6, control group), group B (n=12, denervation group), and group C (n=12, PDTC treatment group). The sciatic nerves of the rats were only exposed without cutting off in group A, and the rats were made denervated gastrocnemius models in groups B and C. PDTC of 100 mg/(kg•d) was injected peritoneally in group C and an intraperitoneal injection of the same amount normal sal ine was given in group B. After 14 and 28 days, the gastrocnemius was harvested to measure the ratio of muscle wet weight; the levels of nuclear factor of κB (NF-κB)p65 protein and the opening of the mitochondrial permeabil ity transition pore (MPTP) in the gastrocnemius were detectedrespectively by Western blot and laser confocal scanning microscope; and the apoptotic cells in atrophic muscle were measured with TUNEL. Results The ratio of muscle wet weight in group A was 1.039 ± 0.115, and it significantly decreased in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05); after 14 and 28 days of operation, the ratio of muscle wet weight in group C significantly increased when compared with those in group B (P lt; 0.05). The expression of NF-κB p65 protein in group A was 0.224 ± 0.041; the expressions of NF-κB p65 in groups B and C significantly increased when compared with that in group A (P lt; 0.05); however, the expression of NF-κB p65 in group C was significantly lower than that in group B (P lt; 0.05). The MPTP fluorescence intensity in group A was 31.582 ± 1.754; the MPTP fluorescence intensity was significantly lower in groups B and C than in group A (P lt; 0.05), and the MPTP fluorescence intensity in group C was significantly higher than that in group B (P lt; 0.05). The rate of apoptosis in group A was 4.542% ± 0.722%; after 14 and 28 days of operation, the rates of apoptosis significantly increased when compared groups B and C with group A, and signiticantly decreased when compared group C with group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion PDTC can retard denervated skeletal muscle atrophy, and the effect may have a relationship with its inhibition on NF-κB, the opening of the MPTP, and the ratio of apoptosis.
Objective To investigate the effect of the neuromuscular pedicle transplantation in prevention against atrophy in the denervated muscle. Methods Fortyeight SD rats were used to establish the right side tibialis anterior muscle denervation model. The long peroneal muscle neuromuscular pedicle was made as a treatment in 12 rats (Group A); the nerve shaft embedding was used in 12 rats (Group B); no treatment was used in 12 rats(Group C); the remaining 12 rats were used as normal controls (Group D). The gait analysis, electromyogram，muscle wet weight, and muscle fiber crosssectional area were used to determine and compare the effect of the operation at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. ResultsAt 6 weeks postoperatively, the parameters tested in Group A about the gait analysis (peroneal function index, PFI, －47.20±12.30), electromyogram, muscle wet weight (0.384 0±0.024 6 g)and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (1 040.98±120.54 μm2) were significantly better than those in Group C (PFI, -114.40±14.84; muscle wet weight, 0.173 0±0.019 1 g; muscle fiber cross-sectional area, 585.08±182.93 μm2,Plt;0.05), and the final two parameters were significantly better than those in Group B (0.294 0±0.056 4 g,763.92±82.68 μm2,Plt;0.05). At 12 weeks postoperatively, the musclefiber crosssectional area in Group A(1 360.10±261.45 μm2) had no significant difference from that in Group D (1 544.57±266.92 μm2，Pgt;0.05)，and most of the parameters tested in Group A were better than those in Groups B and C. Conclusion Neuromuscular pedicle transplantation has an excellent effect in prevention against atrophy in the denervated muscle, and the effect of neuromuscular pedicle transplantation is better than that of the nerve shaft embedding.
Objectives To observe the clinical characteristics of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and analyze the features to differentiate LCA from other similar disorders.Methods Prospective study of 15 LCA patients which include 10 males and 5 females, aged from 2 to 31 years with the mean age 13.6 years. Medical history, family history, perinatal conditions, as well as complete ocular evaluations were well documented. Among the subjects, 12 patients underwent optometry check, 10 patients underwent ERG and 8 patients had OCT testing. Results All of the patients had nystagmus and sluggish pupillary reflex. The visual acuity distributed from light perception to 0.1. Fivepatients (33.3%) were presented with photophobia, while 7 patients (46.7%) had nyctalopia. Among 12 cases underwent refraction examination, 6 patients (50%) had spherical equivalent of ge;+5D；1 patient（8.3%）had spherical equivalent of ge;+5D; 2 patients (16.7%) had bilateral mild to moderate hyperopia；1 patient (8.3%) had one emmertropic eye and one mild myopic eye; 2 patients (16.7%) had moderate to high myopia. Eight patients (53.3%) had enophthalmus,4 patients (26.7%) had oculodigital sign. All of the 10 patients underwent ERG showed extinguished waveform. Under OCT assesement, 7 patients had decreased fovea thickness; 1 patient had increased fovea thickness, complicated by epiretinal membrane; mild abnormality of microstructure of the retina with diminished and disrupted IS/OS hyperreflectivity were found in 2 cases；while more pronounced disarrangement of the retinal layers were found in 6 cases，inner layers were better reserved in all patients.Conclusions Severe visual impairment or blindness, nystagmus, pupillary reflex, extinguished ERG and hyperopia are main clinical characteristics of LCA.
Objective To compare and quantitatively analyse the different characteristics of multimodal imaging of geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods The study included multimodel images of 32 eyes of 27 patients with GA secondary to AMD. There were 14 males (17 eyes) and 13 females (15 eyes). The age ranged from 64 to 83 years, with the mean age of (74.4±7.6) years. All eyes were examined by color fundus photography (CFP), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Using image J software, two trained ophthalmologists, operating in masked fashion, graded the area of lesions of CFP, FAF and FFA independently and compared the sizes of GA area. OCT was performed to confirm the border of lesion when FAF difficult to be determined. The results consistency of two ophthalmologists was analyzed by Bland-Altman. Results The results consistency was high of two ophthalmologists, with the variation range of FFA＜FAF＜CFP. The GA area of CFP, FAF and FFA were (19.81±13.03), (21.50±13.61), (23.10±14.29) mm2. The difference of GA area between three multimodel images was statistically significant (F=0.466, P=0.629). Conclusion The mean size of GA measured by CFP, FAF and FFA showed no statistical difference.
Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) on the denervated muscle atrophy. Methods Twenty-four SD male rats, weighting 200-220 g were made the models of denervated gastrocnemius muscle after sciatic nerves were transected under the piriform muscle at the right lower leg, and were randomly divided into two groups (n=12). rhEPO (2 500 U/kg) was injected daily into the denervated gastrocnemius muscle in EPO group, and normal sal ine was injected into the denervated gastrocnemius muscle in control group. To observe the general state of health of the experimental animal, the muscle wet weight, the muscle cell diameter, the cross section area, the protein amount, thepercentage of the apoptotic muscle cells, and the Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities were measured 2 and 4 weeks after operation. Results All experimental animals were survived during experiment without cut infection, and all animals could walk with pull ing the right knee. At 4 weeks after operation, 7 cases showed ulcer in the right heel, inculding 5 in the control group and 2 in the EPO group. At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the muscle wet weight in EPO group was (885.59 ± 112.35) and (697.62 ± 94.74) g, respectively; in control group, it was (760.63 ± 109.05) and (458.71 ± 58.76) g, respectively; indicating significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.01). The protein amount in EPO group was (77.37 ± 5.24) and (66.37 ± 4.87) mg/mL, respectivly；in control group, it was (65.39 ± 4.97) and (54.62 ± 6.32) mg/mL；indicating significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.01). At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the myofibrillar shapes were nearly normal in EPO group while there were muscle fiber atrophy, some collapse and obviously hyperblastosis between muscle bundle. There were significant differences in the muscle cell diameter and the cross section between two groups (P lt; 0.01). However, the percentage of the apoptotic muscle cells was 11.80% ± 1.74% and 28.47% ± 1.81% in control group, respectively, which was significantly smaller than that in EPO group (21.48% ± 2.21% and 55.89% ± 2.88%, P lt; 0.01). At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, Na+-K+-ATPaseand Ca2+-ATPase activities in EPO group were higher than those in control group (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion EPO can delay the denervated muscle atrophy.
Optic atrophy,hereditary／diagnosis; Polymerase chain reaction; DNA,mitochondrial; Point mutation; Sequence analysis
Objective To investigate the effect of Ligustrazine on the expressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 indenervated skeletal muscle atrophy rats. Methods Fifty-four 8-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly dividedinto 3 groups: normal control group (group A, n=6), denervated control group (group B, n=24), and Ligustrazine interventiongroup (group C, n=24). After the denervated gastrocnemius models were established in the rats of groups B and C, sal ine andLigustrazine [80 mg/(kg·d)] were given every day by intraperitoneal injection, respectively. However, no treatment was donein group A. At 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after denervation, the wet weight of gastrocnemius was measured to calculate the ratio ofwet weight. The mRNA and protein expression levels of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 were detected by RT-PCR and Westernblot. Results The ratio of gastrocnemius wet weight decreased with time after denervation in groups B and C, showingsignificant differences when compared with that of group A (P lt; 0.05), and group C were significantly higher than that of groupB at 7, 14, and 28 days (P lt; 0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1 in groups B and Cwere significantly higher than those in group C at 7, 14, and 28 days (P lt; 0.05), and group C was significantly lower than groupB (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Ligustrazine may postpone denervated skeletal muscle atrophy by reducing mRNA and proteinexpressions of FoXO3a, MAFbx, and MuRF1.
Objective To find the new mutations of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Methods Two LHON families were enrolled in this study. The probands and all maternal members in this two families were underwent ophthalmologic examinations. The ages of probands were seven and 14 years old respectively. A total of 358 healthy adults were enrolled in this study as control group. The genomic DNA from whole blood of participants were extracted. The entire mitochondrial genome of probands were PCR amplified and sequenced in 24 overlapping fragments using primers as designed. At the same time, the mtDNA of maternal relatives and 358 controls were also detected. Fourteen primate species were selected from GenBank to analyzed the phylogenetics of mitochondrial sequence. Results There was no ND4 G11778A, ND1 G3460A, ND6 T14484C mutational site in all maternal members. Molecular analysis of mtDNA in this two families identified the homoplasmic tRNAGluA14683G mutation and distinct set of variants belonging to the Asian haplogroup F1a1 and G2. The site was at theTpsi;C stem oftRNAGlu and extremely conserved among 14 primate species. It was anticipated that the A14683G increased the highly conserved C-G basepairing. Furthermore, the A14683G was absence in control group. Conclusion The tRNAGluA14683G mutation is likely a new mutation associated with LHON.
Through the different image technologies, peripapillary atrophy can be classified into four types: α zone, β zone, γ zone and δ zone. Each type of them has different imaging and histological features. Peripapillary atrophy is a common structure in peoples’ eyes and it is correlated with many factors and diseases such as age, myopia, glaucoma, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and age-related macular degeneration which bring difficulties to our diagnosis and antidiastole. Classifying and qualifying peripapillary atrophy properly, which can evaluate the changes and degrees, can benefit our studies about their mechanism and offer the clinical biological indictors and research basis.