· AlM:To compare the therapeutic effects of different surgical methods in treating pterygium patients and to observe tear film stability.
· METHODS: A total of 120 pterygium patients ( 120 eyes) were divided into three groups, each 40 cases (40 eyes).Data including SchirmerⅠtest (SⅠt), tear break-up time ( BUT) , corneal fluorescein staining ( CFS) were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively to evaluate the clinical efficacy of surgery and the effects of tear function changes.
·RESULTS:There were no significant differences in BUT in group A before the operation and one month after operation.Groups B and C showed significant difference before and after operation, but differences were not statistically significant ( all P<0.05 ); One month after operation, there was significant difference in CFS among group A, B and C (P<0.05), but the difference was not satistically significant between groups B and C; After 3mo, BUT in group A was not significant difference compared with the preoperative; but there was significant difference in groups B and C (P<0.05).When
compared it between groups B and C, there showed no significant difference; Group A showed no significant difference in SⅠt compared with preoperative, SⅠt of groups B and C were significant differences compared with preoperative (P<0.05), but no significant difference between the two groups;After 3mo, CFS of preoperative group A and group B and group C had no significant difference. After 10mo follow - up, there was axsignificant difference ( P<0.05 ) in recurrence rate in group A comparing with groups B and C, there were differences between groups B and C, but no statistically significant.Surgery is more likely to relapse in summer than in winter.
·CONCLUSlON: Pterygium excision combined with self-corneal limbal stem cell transplantation and Tenon capsule closed is an ideal surgical to reduce the recurrence and improve tear film function to some extent.

AIM: To explore a new compute tomography (CT) for the localization of intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs).METHODS: After CT ocular horizontal and ocular axial scan,the foreign bodies on the eyeball wall or retinal surface in 26eyes were localized by means of the combination of CT ocular axial scan and meridian plane reconstruction (new method),ocular horizontal scan and ocular axial scan (conventional method Ⅰ) as well as ocular horizontal scan right angle coordination (conventional method Ⅱ) separately. According to the criteria of indirect ophthalmoscope localization and direct observation during operation, the relative accuracies of corresponding points of the foreign bodies on sclera surface along meridian and latitude were measured.RESULTS: In the 26 cases, the mean relative accuracies of corresponding points of foreign bodies on sclera surface along meridian and latitude were 1.53mm、1.64mm (new method), 1.37mm、1.64mm (conventional method Ⅰ) and 2.02mm、2.55mm (conventional method Ⅱ) respectively.There was no statistical difference between the new method and the conventional method Ⅰ, whereas there was statistical difference between the new methods and the conventional method Ⅱ (along meridian: P＜0.05; along latitude:P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: Compared with the conventional methods,the new method is simpler, more visible and more potential in the clinic.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and the genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa) in the Chinese Han population in Nanjing.

METHODSWe performed a case control study on 187 cases of PCa and 237 cancer-free healthy controls. Peripheral blood genome DNA was extracted from the subjects for analysis of the polymorphism of the TRAIL-716 locus by polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR). The correlations between the susceptibility to PCa and different genotypes were compared.

RESULTSAn SNP (-716A/G) was found in the promoter of the TRAIL gene. AA, AG and GG genotypes were identified. Logistic regression analysis suggested that AG, GG and AG + GG genotypes had no significant correlation with the risk of PCa (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.54 -1.47; OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.69 -1.27; OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.54 - 1.41).

CONCLUSIONThe TRAIL-716 polymorphism is not directly related with the genetic susceptibility to PCa in the Chinese Han population of Nanjing.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; genetics

Over the past few decades, the classification of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes has been an important topic in cancer biology. However,it is difficult to classify some genes. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K(HNRNPK)is a nucleic acid-binding protein,which is involved in the regulation of gene expression,signal transduction and many other cellular processes. In recent years, it has been found that HNRNPK is overexpressed in many types of tumors,and its overexpression is negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients,suggesting that HNRNPK may play a role as an oncogene in tumorigenesis. In contrast,however,HNRNPK has also been considered as a tumor suppressor gene in acute myeloid leukemia(AML). Therefore, in this article we summarize and discuss the recent progress in the molecular functions and regulatory mechanisms of HNRNPK in tumorigenesis and progression.

Objective To express the recombinant IL-37b protein and to investigate its role in the regulation of immune responses. Methods The prokaryotic expression vector pET28/IL-37b was constructed. The recombinant IL-37b protein was induced to be expressed and was purified using Ni2+-NTA gel column. C57BL/6 J mice were treated with IL-37b and injected with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to induce septic shock,and the expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IFN-γ in the serum of the mice were detected. Dendritic cells from bone marrow of the mice were isolated and cultured, and were treated with IL-37b. After LPS-induced activation, the expression levels of marker molecules such as CD40, CD80 and MHCII on the cell surface, and cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α in the culture supernatants were detected by flow cytometry. The CD4 +T cells from mice were isolated and the inhibitory effects of IL-37b on the expression of IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-10 in the culture supernatants of T cells after induction by LPS were detected. Results IL-37b reduced the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum of septic shock mice. IL-37b also inhibited the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines of the mouse dendritic cells, and suppress the activation of CD4 +T cells in vitro. Conclusions Purified recombinant IL-37b protein has high bioactivity, and can alleviate septic shock in organisms through inhibiting the activation of dendritic cells and related T cell immune responses.

BACKGROUNDParaquat (PQ), an effective and widely used herbicide, has been proven to be safe when appropriately applied to eliminate weeds. However, PQ poisoning is an extremely frustrating clinical condition with a high mortality and with a lack of effective treatments in humans. PQ mainly accumulates in the lung, and the main molecular mechanism of PQ toxicity is based on redox cycling and intracellular oxidative stress generation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lysine acetylsalicylate (LAS) could protect the lung from the damage of PQ poisoning and to study the mechanisms of protection.

METHODSA model of PQ poisoning was established in 75 Sprague-Dawley rats by intragastric administration of 50 mg/kg PQ, followed by treatment with 200 mg/kg of LAS. The rats were randomly divided into sham, PQ, and PQ + LAS groups, with 25 in each group. We assessed and compared the malonaldehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) in serum and lung and the hydroxyproline (HYP) content, pathological changes, apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2/Bax protein in lung of rats on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 after PQ poisoning and LAS treatment.

RESULTSCompared to the PQ group rats, early treatment with LAS reduced the MDA and HYP contents, and increased the SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities in the serum and lung on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after PQ poisoning (all P < 0.05). After early LAS treatment, the apoptotic rate and Bax expression of lung decreased, the Bcl-2 expression increased, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased, compared to the PQ group rats. Furthermore, the pathological results of lungs revealed that after LAS treatment, early manifestations of PQ poisoning, such as hemorrhage, edema and inflammatory-cell infiltration, were improved to some degree, and collagen fibers in the pulmonary interstitium were also obviously reduced.

CONCLUSIONIn this rat model of PQ poisoning, LAS effectively ameliorated the lung injury induced by PQ, possibly through antioxidation, anti-fibrosis, anti-apoptosis, and anticoagulation.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Aspirin ; analogs & derivatives ; standards ; therapeutic use ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lysine ; analogs & derivatives ; standards ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) positive expression and its mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta of diabetic rats with atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanisms for intervening chronic diabetic complications.

METHODSRecruited 40 Goto-Kakisaki (GK) Wistar rats were fed with high fat forage containing metabolic inhibition Propylthiouracil, and peritoneally injected with endothelial NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to establish a high fat diabetes model with atherosclerosis. The modeled GK rats were stratified by body weight, and then, by blood glucose level from high to low, randomly divided into the DGR group (at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg), the metformin group (MET, at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg), the simvastatin group (SIM, at the daily dose of 2 mg/kg), and the model group (MOD, fed with pure water, at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg) according to the random number table, 10 in each group. Another 10 Wistar rats of the same ages and comparable body weight level were recruited as the normal control group. All the interventions lasted for 24 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were monitored. The HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, serum ROS were determined. The aortic NF-kappaB level was analyzed with immunohistochemical assay. The expression of NF-kappaB (P65) mRNA in the aorta was detected with Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe body weight in the normal control group was eventually heavier than others (P < 0.01). There was no difference among the four groups of GK modeled rats (P > 0.05). The FBG in the four GK modeled groups were higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the blood glucose level at the first visit and at the baseline among the GK modeled groups (P > 0.05). The last FBG level was obviously lower in the MET and DGR groups than in the MOD group (P < 0.01) and the SIM group (P < 0.05). Twenty-four weeks after intervention, the level of FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate of the thoracic aorta of the four groups of GK modeled rats, and NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta in the MOD group, the MET group, and the DGR group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The TG level, serum ROS in the MET, DGR, and SIM groups, and the NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in the SIM group were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The levels of FBG, TC, LDL-C, serum ROS, NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in three drug intervention groups, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate in the DGR and MET groups, and the levels of HbA1c, TG in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MOD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The level of FBG in the MET and DGR groups were lower than that in the SIM group (P < 0.05). The level of NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta of the SIM and DGR groups, and the levels of TC and LDL-C in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MET group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDGR played a role in preventing and treating chronic diabetic complications by comprehensively regulating blood glucose and serum lipids, as well as down-regulating oxidative stress.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood

To provide a scientific evidence for the quality control of Codonopsis Radix, a method was established for determining the content of three free carbohydrates of Codonopsis Radix. The developed method showed good linearity. The calibration curves were linear within the range of 2.312 5-18.500 0 μg for sucrose, 1.500 0-12.000 0 μg for glucose, and 2.000 0-16.000 0 μg for fructose, resgectwely. The recoveries varied between 96.31%-101.8%. The method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for determining the content of sucrose, glucose and fructose of Codonopsis Radix. The results showed that different cultivation measures had an effect on the content of three free carbohydrates of Codonopsis Radix. According to the content of sucrose, using Zhuanggenling>not using Zhuanggenling. While, not pinching, shelving>not pinching, not shelving>pinching, not shelving>pinching, shelving. According to the content of glucose and fructose, not using Zhuanggenling>using Zhuanggenling. While, pinching, shelving>not pinching, not shelving>not pinching, shelving>pinching, not shelving. In consideration of the differences of sweetness and content of the three free carbohydrates in Codonopsis Radix, we recommend that the content of free carbohydrates could be considered as the marker to evaluate the quality of Codonopsis Radix.

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications