Ptosis is one of the most common diseases in oculoplastics. Surgical treatment is the only way to correcting ptosis. Most of doctors paid special attention to surgical technique, rather than to some related issues of operation. Timing is crucial for ptosis surgery. Both cosmetic and function need to be considered for a success surgery, the evaluation of extraocular muscle disorder is impor- tant for surgical result and postoperative complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glioma ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of salvia miltiorrhiza injection (SM) on gentamicin (GM)-induced expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in guinea pig cochlea, and to explore the protective mechanism of SM on GM-induced ototoxicity.

METHODS40 guinea pigs were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control group, GM group, SM group and GM plus SM group. Expression of NOS isoforms in the guinea pig cochlea was detected by the SABC method of immunohistochemistry and microscope image analysis technique. Auditory threshold was tested by auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurement.

RESULTSInducible NOS (iNOS/NOS II) expression and ABR threshold in GM plus SM group were both significantly declined as compared with those in GM group (P < 0.01). Moreover, change of iNOS expression was in high correlation with that of ABR threshold ([r] > 0.7, P < 0.01). While expression of neuronal NOS (nNOS/NOS I) and endothelial NOS (eNOS / NOS III) showed no significant differences in all groups.

CONCLUSIONSM had no effect on the expression of nNOS and eNOS, but could inhibit iNOS high-expression induced by GM to reduce excessive generation of NO, therefore SM could protect against GM ototoxicity.

Animals ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the status of the disease of the fluorosis and arsenism caused by coal-burning in Ankang city of Shaanxi. Methods Nine survey spots were chosen to carry out the epidemiological investigation of adult skeletal fluorosis and arsenism in the coal-polluted areas of Ankang, respectively using Determination of Fluorine in Coal (GB/T 4633-1997) to determine the coal fluorine and using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry(HCAFS) to determine coal arsenic. The diagnose of the adult skeletal fluorosis followed the Diagnosis of Clinical Classification for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis Standard(GB 16396-1996), that of arsenism using Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsensim (WS/T 211-2001). Results Totally 569 adults were investigated over the age of 16, among which 121 cases were skeletal fluorosis, with a total detection rate of 21.27%. Four cases of II degree and higher skeletal fluorosis patients were identified, accounting for 0.70% of the number of subjects. One hundred and thirty-two cases of arsenic poisonin were detected, in a rate of 23.20%. Ninety-five patients were identified with moderate or severe arsenic poisoning, accounting for 16.69% of subjects. A positive correlation was found between the detection rates of the skeletal fluorosis and the arsenism(r = 0.816, P < 0.01), as well as between the detection rate of skeletal fluorosis and fluoride content of coal(r = 0.775, P < 0.05). The detection rate of arsenism and arsenic content of coal also had close relationship (r = 0.761, P < 0.05). The detection rate of skeletal fluorosis in the group aged 40 - ,50 - , and 60 - [27.20%(34/125) ,29.27%(36/123), 28.13%(36/128)] was increased, compared the group of less than 40 years age[7.77%( 15/193), X~2 = 21.969,25.648,23.856,P<0.01].For the detection rate of arsenism,male[33.67%(99/294)]was obviously higher than female[12.00%(33/275),)(X~2=37.162,P<0.01].Conclusions A high detection rate of fhorosis is correlated with arsenic poisoning,but the probability of the two diseases simultaneously occurred in a person is not high.In this polluted area.when fluoride accumulates to a certain level as in aduh,the detection rates no longer varies obviously;however,that of arsenism increases along with the age.

Objective To invesgate the effect of P-glycoprotein(PGP)inhibitor,verapamil,on electrobiological activity and seizure behavior in phenytoin-carbamazepine(PHT-CBZ)resistant rats.Methods The model of medically intractable epilepsy was established by kindling of amygdale. Verapamil was applied to PHT-CBZ resistant rats,followed by the observation on after discharge threshold (ADT),after discharge duration(ADD)and seizure activity.Results Compared with the control group, the ADT was higher in PHT-CBZ resistant rats peritoneally injected with verapamil((238.0?32.2)?A vs (177.0?23.3)?A,P

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. GDF-15 expression is dramatically upregulated during acute brain injury, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation, suggesting its potential value as a disease biomarker. It has been suggested that GDF-15 has neurotropic effects in the nervous system. Our studies showed that GDF-15 modulated the expression of neuronal Kand Caion channels and increased the release of excitatory transmitter in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice. GDF-15 is also involved in the complex modulation of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Here, we reviewed studies involving the modulation of GDF-15 expression and its mechanisms, the primary pathological and physiological functions of GDF-15 in neurological and cardiovascular systems, and its role in cancer progression. The biological effects and the values of GDF-15 in basic research and clinical applications were also addressed.
Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Nervous System ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence of low birth weight and identify the influencing factors in China in 2006.

METHODSThe national survey was performed by stratified random cluster sampling method in 43 cities and counties in 14 provinces. The subjects were all live neonates during May to October in 2006. Their body weight was measured according to the standardization conducted by the national research team, while the information of all infants was investigated by questionnaires. Non-conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors.

RESULTSAmong 18 554 infants investigated, the incidence of low birth weight was 4.6% in 2006 in China, being 3.2%, 4.4%, and 6.3% in eastern middle and western areas respectively. The incidence of low birth weight were 3.9% in urban and 4.8% in rural. The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that maternal education (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.181 approximately 1.861), body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.229 - 1.876), body weight gain in gestation period (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.246 - 1.965), gestational weeks (OR = 20.16; 95% CI: 15.456 - 26.297), multiple birth (OR = 12.11; 95% CI: 9.229 - 15.893), gestation syndrome, and nutrition instruction (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.550 - 0.798) were associated with low birth weight significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe main factors resulting in low birth weight in neonates are maternal education, BMI before pregnancy, body weight gain in gestation period, pregnancy age, multiple birth, gestation syndrome, and nutrition instruction.

Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric lymphoma.

METHODS83 gastric lymphoma cases were analyzed retrospectively in accordance to the criteria of the new World Health Organization classification for neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. The correlations between clinicopathological features, therapeutic measures and survival were discussed.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 25 to 77, with a median of 52. The number of males were similar to that of females. There were no specific symptoms. The most common symptoms were stomach ache (60 cases, 72%) or discomfort. The duration of symptoms was often long and with a history of chronic gastric diseases (21 cases, 25%). 13 cases had multiple lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa. 51 cases (61%) were accompanied by lymph node involvement. According to the new World Health Organization classification for neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, 57 cases were extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type (MALT lymphoma), 23 were diffuse large B cell lymphoma accompanying MALT lymphoma, 2 were diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 1 was follicular lymphoma. Of all the cases, 31 were stage I E, 38 stage II E, 8 stage III E and 6 stage IV by the Ann Arbor staging system (1972). The total 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 77.8% and 70.1% respectively, with the mean survival time of 146 months. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of MALT lymphoma were 77.4% and 72.3%, the 5-year and 10-year survival rates of diffuse large B cell lymphoma accompanying MALT lymphoma were 81.8% and 68.2%, the 5-year survival rate of diffuse large B cell lymphoma was 50.0%.

CONCLUSIONSThere are no specific symptoms in gastric lymphoma patients. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of MALT-type is the main histopathological type of gastric lymphoma, often accompanied by multiple mucosa involvement and also often accompanied by a history of chronic gastric disease. The lesion is usually localized for a long time, with a very good prognosis. Survival rate has a significant correlation with lymph node involvement and clinical stage. No correlations were found between the survival rates with age, gender, B symptoms, invasive depth of the wall of stomach, the size and range of the tumors or different therapeutic measures.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphoma ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ion channel genes related with the genesis and development of heart failure after myocardial infarction through analyzing the differential gene expressions in non-infarcted myocardial tissues of post-myocardial infarction heart failure (PIHF) rat model, and that of normal rat, and the bio-informatics Stc-GO analysis on them.

METHODSRat model of PIHF was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in six SD rats, and a control group with six sham-operative rats was set. Myocardial samples were taken in two batches from them (three rats in each group) at the heart failure formation stage and the stable stage (10 days and 8 weeks after operation) respectively. Total RNA extraction, probe preparation with reverse transcription, hybridization with double-channel cDNA microarray of rat's ion channel genes, and computerized differential gene expression screening were conducted, and Stc-GO functional clustering analysis was performed on the outcomes obtained to search out the GO sort of significance in them.

RESULTSAt 10 days after operation, 319 common differential expressed genes were found from the 746 target genes, all of them were up-regulated. At 8 weeks after operation, in the 276 differential expressed genes, 274 were up-regulated while the other two down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were those concerning receptors of various hormones, cytokines, neuro-hormones, growth factors and nuclear receptor, protein phosphorylase, G protein, various ion channels mediated by ligand or voltage, transport protein, receptor interfering protein, etc. The down-regulated genes concerning the potassium channel and transport protein, etc. Stc-GO analysis found that the six genes concerning adrenergic receptor kinase beta 1 (betaARK1), amiloride-sensitive cation channel 2 neuronal (Accn2), voltage-dependent calcium ion channel gamma subunit 1 (Cacng1), cyclic nucleotide gated channel alpha 1 (Cnga1), Glutamate receptor ionotropic kainite 2 (Grik 2) and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (Ntrk 2), were all the significantly up-regulated differential genes of the model group related with the sham-operative group, and all showed a down-regulating trend as time goes on, and four genes in them were validated by the RT-PCR test.

CONCLUSIONIon channel genes concerning Accn2, Grik2, Ntrk2 and Cacng1 were up-regulated in PIHF, and its mechanism is waiting for further study.

Animals ; Heart Failure ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo find the status and changes of the soil nutrients in rhizosphere of Atractylodes lancea.

METHODTotal nitrogen (total N), available K, available P, organic matter (ORG), available nitrogen and pH in rhizosphere soil of the wild growing A. lancea in 3 sites, MS, LT and MFS, and the cultivated ones with different ages in LT were detected.

RESULTThe contents of total nitrogen (total N), available K, available P, organic matter (ORG), available nitrogen and pH value in rhizosphere soil were significant different between MS, LT and MFS (P < 0.01). The results of the 6 detected parameters in MS were the lowest, in MFS were the highest and in LT were in the middle. The total N, ORG and available N in the cultivated A. lancea were lower than that in the wild ones (P < 0.01) and available P and pH value in the cultivated A. lancea were higher than that in wild ones (P < 0.01) and there was no difference in available K between the wild and cultivated ones in LT (P > 0.05); 3 available P in rhizosphere soil of the two years old A. lancea were higher than of the one year old A. lancea (P < 0.01) and there were no difference of total N, ORG, available N, available K and pH value in rhizosphere soil of A. lancea between one year and two years plant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is indicated that the growth of A. lancea in Mt. Mao is faced nutrient stress.

Atractylodes ; growth & development ; China ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Organic Chemicals ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Potassium ; analysis ; Rhizome ; growth & development ; Soil ; analysis