BackgroundWith the increasing prevalence of dry eye and the continuous improvement of living standards,the problem of dry eye more and more get the attention of people.At present,China still lacks the large population-based epidemiological data of dry eye. Objective To investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors of dry eye in a community of Huidong County of population aged 14 and over.Methods From September 2010 to January 2011,using questionnaires and examination of dry eye related,2800 people were selected randomly for cross-sectional survey.Those suspected as dry eye were examed by the SchirmerⅠtest ( S Ⅱ T),tear-film breakup time(BUT),corneal fluorescein staining(F1).Results In the 2475 questionnaire effectively,154 persons were diagnosed as dry eye,and the prevalence rate of dry eye was 6.22％,8.06％in females,4.14％in males.The prevalence rate increases with age.The S Ⅰ T and BUT decreased with increasing age.S Ⅰ T and BUT in females are less than males.Foreign body sensation is the primary complaints of patients.Logistic analysis showed that the most common risk factors in dry eye are age and gender.The system disease and eye diseases,eye fatigue and long exposure to dust are also main determinants.ConclusionsThe population prevalence rate of dry eye increased with age,the prevalence rate of dry eye in females is higher than that in males.The key factors associated with dry eye are age,gender,systemic disease and eye diseases,occupation,working environment.

The qualitative and quantitative analysis on traditional Chinese medicine and formula components can be made by chemical and instrumental analysis methods. Of both, the instrumental analysis methods play a dominant role, including HPLC, HPLC-MS, HPLC-NMR, GC, GC-MS, biochemical and biological effect. But because traditional Chinese medicines and formula have complicated components, chemical methods are so unspecific that they shall be used less or with caution. While instrumental analysis methods are so specific that they are appropriate for analyzing complicated single component. The analysis techniques for multiple components of traditional Chinese medicines and formula focus on fingerprints, but all of these analysis techniques are limited by the pre-requisite of separation and the lack of general-purpose detectors and therefore being hard to realize the determination of all components of traditional Chinese medicines and formula. In the natural world, however, organisms identify native and alien components through specificity and non-specificity of clusters decided by antigens and antibodies. For example, components of traditional Chinese medicines are directly or indirectly synthesized into antigens and injected into animals, in order to generate specific antibodies and then collect cross reaction information of these components to specific antibodies. As for components without cross reaction, their contents shall be directly read out on the basis of the inhibition rate curve of competitive reaction for specificity of antigens and antibodies. Besides, a cross inhibition rate matrix shall be established first, and them a multiple regression linear equation between cross component concentration or concentration logarithm and inhibition rate by labeling the immunity competitive reaction between antibodies and haptens of traditional Chinese medicine and compound components, and then solved to obtain concentration of each component. The two results are combined to establish the synthetic immunity chip method for traditional Chinese medicine and formula components.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of p65 gene inhibited by siRNA on neuronic differentiation in the marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODSThe MSCs were transfected with Rn-p65-siRNA. Fasudil hydrochloride induced MSCs differentiating into neurons. The non-transfected group and negative control group (transfected with negative control siRNA marked by Cy3) were used as controls. The fluorescence expressed by transfected MSCs were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope at 24 h,48 h and 72 h after transfected with negative control siRNA. The viability of MSCs was detected by MTT at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfected with Rn-p65-siRNA. The expressions of p65 mRNA and protein in MSCs were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The expressions of p65 protein, NSE, MAP-2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunocytochemical method after transfection for 6 h.

RESULTSThe fluorescence of MSCs was mostly displayed after transfection of 72 hours and the efficiency of transfection was up to 83.3% ± 3.8%. Meanwhile, the p65 mRNA and p65 protein expressed by MSCs of transfected group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); MTT displayed that the viability of MSCs was also significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The best efficiency of induction was observed in the transfected group. There were higher expressions of NSE and MAP-2 than the other group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe p65 gene inhibited by siRNA can promote the marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into neurons.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; analogs & derivatives ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Transcription Factor RelA ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL) on normal human breast.

METHODSTen specimens of normal human breast tissues were subcutaneously implanted into 30 athymic nude mice aged 9-10 weeks, one for 3 mice. These mice were then randomly divided into three groups: control group (without hormone treatment, n = 10), 1 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10), and 5 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10). All breast tissues were taken out 6 weeks later. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inhibiting apoptosis gene Bcl-2, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression levels of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) mRNA and bridging integrator protein-1 (BIN1) mRNA. Morphological features of grafts before and after treatment were also observed.

RESULTSAlpha-ZAL had no significant effects on Bcl-2, PCNA, ER, and PR expression of mammary epithelial cells in graft specimens. Alpha-ZAL upregulated BIN1 mRNA expression in grafts, but had no significant effect on ESTmRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSAlpha-ZAL does not affect the morphology, proliferating, and apoptosis of epithelial cells in normal human breast tissues implanted into nude mice, but it may increase the gene expression of tumor-inhibiting BIN1, suggesting that alpha-ZAL may have potential proteotive effect on normal human breast.

Adult ; Animals ; Breast ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis ; Zeranol ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo monitor the changes of hemolysis parameters and endothelial cell markers in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and reveal the clinical significance of these changes.

METHODSvWF-cleaving protease (vWF-CP) activity in 3 cases of TTP was detected by Western blot. The percentages of fragmented red cells (FRC) were counted throughout the entire clinical course. Levels of plasma thrombomodulin were detected by Western blot combined with density screening in TTP and healthy individuals (n = 3). Concentration of plasma VEGF was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in TTP and healthy individuals (n = 9). Fundus fluorescein angiography was performed to search the evidence of microvascular thrombosis in one TTP patient with impaired visual acuity.

RESULTSThe lower vWF-CP activity was observed in TTP patients; the percentages of FRC in 3 cases of TTP were 1.65%, 2.50%, 3.32% respectively with an average of 2.49% at the onset of and decreased with the improvement of the disease. The levels of plasma TM and VEGF were significantly elevated in TTP than those in healthy individuals, and related to the severity of TTP. Fundus photography in one TTP patient with impaired visual acuity revealed vascular occlusion in fundus arteriole and venulae.

CONCLUSIONSA decreased vWF-CP activity is in favour of TTP diagnosis. Dynamic monitoring of plasma TM and VEGF as well as percentages of FRC are useful indexes for reflecting the severity and evaluating therapeutic response of TTP. Selective fundus fluorescein angiography is useful for the judgement of microvascular thrombosis in TTP.

ADAM Proteins ; blood ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; blood ; pathology ; Thrombomodulin ; blood ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to characterize HearNPV DNA replication in exponential and stationary phases of HzAM1 cells. Results showed that the doubling time of HzAM1 cells was 22 h in exponential phases. Most of the exponential cells were in S phase (48.6%), and most of the stationary cells in G2/M phase (72.6%). The replication of viral DNA was completed within 60 h post infection (h p. i.) in different phases of HzAM1 cells. During 14 to 20 h p. i., the doubling time of HearNPV replica-tion was 1.8 h in exponential cells and 1.9 h in stationary cells, and no significant difference was found between them. But the amounts of BV entering and releasing, the final progeny virions and viral protein products in the infected exponential phase cells were obviously higher than that in the stationary phase cells. 25% of the total synthesized viral DNAs were released from infected exponential phase cells, but on-ly 13% from the infected stationary phase cells. Viral DNA started to be replicated from 7-8 h p. i. both in infected exponential phase and in stationary phase cells. But in infected exponential phase cells, BVs were started to release from 18-20 h p. i., and BVs were started to release from 22-25 h p. i. from infected sta-tionary phase cells. During 30-60 h p. i., the BV releasing rate was about 483 copies/cell/h in the expo-nential phase cells, but was 100 copies/cell/h in the stationary-phase cells. The initial viral DNA entering into exponential phase cells was much more than that entered into the stationary phase cells. The data of cell membrane fluidity at exponential and stationary phases suggested that the fluidity of cell membrane played an important role during virus entry.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; DNA Replication ; Membrane Fluidity ; Moths ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; physiology ; Virus Internalization ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo investigate the types and frequency of gene mutations in children with thalassemia in Kunming, Yunan Province.

METHODSA biochemical screening for thalassemia was performed by testing RBC fragility, MCV and hemoglobin electrophoresis on 1338 children from Kunming, Yunnan Province. Genetic diagnosis was performed on the children with α-thalassemia by gap-PCR and on the children with β-thalassemia by PCR-RDB.

RESULTSThe positive rate of the biochemical screening for thalassemia was 11.36% (152 cases). The positive rate of genetic diagnosis was 8.59% (115 cases). Of the 115 cases, α-thalassemia was found in 43 cases, β-thalassemia in 68 cases and α-combined-β thalassemia in 4 cases.--SEA/αα accounted for 47%, -α4.2/αα accounted for 21%, and HbH disease accounted for 14%. Six genotypes were found in 68 cases of β-thalassemia and the mutation frequency of βE was the highest (32%), followed by CD41-42 (24%), CD17 (23%), IVS-II654 (10%), CD71-72 (10%), and -28 (1%).

CONCLUSIONSThe frequency of gene mutations for thalassemia is high in children from Kunming, Yunnan Province. Premarital and prenatal screenings and genetic diagnosis for thalassemia should be carried out in this area.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Thalassemia ; blood ; diagnosis ; genetics

Injections for traditional Chinese medicine have over 60 years of history of development and application. In recent years, however, their adverse reactions have been reported one after another. Consequently, studies on screening sensitinogens (sensibiligens) from injections for traditional Chinese medicine have drawn people's attention and become a tough problem all over the world. This essay analyzes the current state of studies on screening techniques of sensitinogens in injections for traditional Chinese medicine according their mechanism of immunotoxicity, and then proposes to adopt the synthetic immunoassay combining immunity bottle chip, immunity cover chip and immunity chromatographic fingerprint to screen sensitinogens from injections for traditional Chinese medicine, in order to build a safety evaluation barrier for development and clinical application of injections for traditional Chinese medicine.
Drug Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish the theories and methods to determine solubility parameters of multiple components for the traditional Chinese material medica (TCMM) with HPLC.

METHODThe mathematical expresses to determin the solubility parameters were established according to chromatographic and Hildebrand-Scatchard theories, The HPLC experiments were carried out at 40 degrees C on an Alltech Apollo C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetone and water in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1), and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The injection volume was 1 0 microL.

RESULTThe mathematical expresses between the retention time and the solubility parameters were established and used to determin caffeine solubility parameter as 28.31 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) in accordance with 28.84 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) reported by literature, and those of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, physcione as 39.70 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 39.08 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 38.37 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 36.42 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe retention time of HPLC can be used to determine the solubility parameters of multiple componets. The established method is useful for the compatibility rule study of traditional Chinese medicine.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Caffeine ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Regression Analysis ; Solubility ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the condensability of mandibular length.

METHODSIn six goats were used in the study. Corticotomy at right mandibular angles was performed via extral-oral accession. Special devices were applied to shorten the mandible by 0.5 mm per three days respectively.

RESULTS1. Mandibular angles of the six goats were shorten by 0.8 cm to 1.3 cm respectively in 48 days to 78 days; 2. In spite of the lower ascending ramus moving forward and angles being blunt, the occlusion scarcely varied because of contralateral bite-lock; 3. X-ray demonstrated that, at first, bone density in contracted areas declined, and then increased gradually to almost normal density; 4. Under microscope there were three tissues layers from central to lateral within the bone gap: fiber layer, cartilage layer and bone layer, and fiber layer gradually transform into cartilage layer with the fixed time. At the end of fixation they all transform into bone tissue.

CONCLUSIONContraction osteogenesis is actually a process of compression, absorption and rebuilding. It is feasible that using contraction osteogenesis to shorten the mandible via cortcotomy.

Animals ; External Fixators ; Female ; Goats ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Mandibular Advancement ; methods ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Osteotomy ; Periosteum ; surgery ; Pressure