AIM: To determine the aqueous, vitreous, serum levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR), and to speculate on the source of the change in concentration and to discuss its clinical significance.METHODS:Forty-one eyes withproliferative diabetic retinopathy were included in the study, 16 of which were complicated by neovascularization of iris (NVI).Twenty-one eyes with idiopathic macular hole (MH)were as controls. The aqueous, vitreous, serum levels of PEDF and VEGF of all the groups were determined with ELISA. PEDF, VEGF and the levels in the three groups were compared with analysis of variance (ANOVA). The PEDF, VEGF concentrations in aqueous,vitreous and serum were analyzed with Pearson correlation test,and the correlation of PEDF and VEGF levels was also analyzed with Pearson correlation test.RESULTS:The aqueous levels of PEDF decreased significantly in sequence in groups of control, PDR without NVI, PDR with NVI. VEGF levels increased coordinately. The similar findings existed in vitreous samples. The PEDF,VEGF levels in aqueous were not correlated significantly with those in serum,but correlated positively with those in vitreous. The intraocular levels of PEDF had a negative correlation to those of VEGF.CONCLUSION:The reduction of intraocular PEDF level and elevation of intraocular VEGF level may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of PDR. In the development of PDR, the PEDF,VEGF levels in aqueous may be mainly effected by local pathological changes, as anti-angiogenic and pro-angiogenic factors, their unbalanced intraocular distribution may promote the angiogenesis of the iris and retina.

Arytenoid Cartilage ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo discriminate and determine of the artificial bear bile of the compound bile capsule.

METHODTaking the pharmacopoeia as reference, the artificial bear bile was discriminated and determined by HPLC.

RESULTThe compound bile capsule and the control sample had chromatographic peak at the same time from HPLC. The content of the artificial bear bile was above 10 mg per tablets.

CONCLUSIONThe artificial bear bile of compound bile capsules can be discriminated effectively and determined accurately by HPLC method.

Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; Capsules ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid ; analysis ; Ursidae

Objective:To identify potentially pleiotropic genes for lean body mass ( LBM ) and age at menarche ( AAM).Methods:The discovery sample consisted of 1 692 unrelated female subjects of European ancestry.The replication sample consisted of 801 unrelated female subjects of Han Chinese ancestry.A total of 909,622 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in both samples with the Affymetrix genome-wide genotyping array SNP 6.0.Bivariate genome-wide association analyses were then performed to the appendicular LBM and AAM.Results: Two SNP rs1860547 and rs11030746 identified by the bivariate GWAS were significant at the genome-wide significance (GWS) level;their P-values were <0.05 after replications.In the upstream of rs1860547, two genes KCNA1 and KCNA5 were found to be important for both LBM and AAM.In the downstream of rs11030746, one gene KCNA4 was found.Univariate GWAS also identified both SNPs to be significant at the GWS level; their P-values were <0.05 after replications.In the upstream of rs1860547 , two genes KCNA1 and KCNA5 are found to be important for LBM.In the downstream of rs11030746 , one gene KCNA4 was found.Conclusion:KCNA1, KCNA4 and KCNA5 are likely to be pleiotropic genes closely related to both LBM and AAM in European females.

Fluorescent probes are potential fluorophores that display signals based on the changes in tissue microenvironment, interactions with analytes or specific biochemical reactions. Metabolic enzymes are the most important protein involved in bacteria activities. Complex dynamics of biological processes in bacteria are elucidated by these metabolic enzymes-based fluorescent probes with high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Here, we review recent advances in metabolic enzyme-responsive fluorescent probes for bacteria imaging. It was organized according to enzyme classification systems, focused on fluorescence masking strategies, molecular mechanisms of enzyme activation, and bio-related applications.

Objective To clone and sequence the cDNA encoding(S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase from Coptis chinensis.Methods The cDNA,encoding(S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase,was amplified by RT-PCR with cDNA library of tender leaf as the template.Results The full-length cDNA of(S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase(named as CYP80B3) had 1 680 bp with an open reading frame encoding 488 amino acids of protein.The CYP80B3 had 95%,82%,70%,and 68% amino acid sequence homology to the sequence of(S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase from C.japonica,Thalictrum flavum,Eschscholzia californica and Papaver somniferum,respectively.The sequence was reported to the GenBank and coded as EF492879.Comparison of sequence with(S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase from C.japonica showed CYP80B3 possessed the same functional regions involved with 3'-hydroxylation of(S)-N-methylcoclaurine.Conclusion The cDNA encoding CYP80B3 from C.chinensis was cloned and reported.This work underlays the first step for exploring the pathway of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and for improving the content of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid in C.chinensis.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of neural stem calls (NSCs) was mediated by many environmental factors. Several factors can induce NSCs to differentiate into neurons in varying degrees and it is now a focus on the control of NSCs differentiation.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of combination of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) on the differentiation of NSCs into neurons.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The in vitro cytology observation was performed at the Neurotomia Laboratory of China Medical University in May 2008.MATERIALS: Three adult male SD rats were provided by Experimental Animal Center of China Medical University.METHODS: Dispositions to the rats were consistent with ethical standards of animals. The rat brain hippocampus was removed sterilely. After trypsin digestion, NSCs were cultured in serum-free medium. Cell suspension was prepared and diluted when the diameter of the fourth passage of clone sphere was 200 μm by mixture of DMEM/F12 containing 2% B27, 20 μg/L of epidermal growth factor (EGF), and 20 μg/L bFGF. Monoclonal calls were passagad. NSCs were divided into blank control, bFGF, BDNF and bFGF+BDNF groups by different growth factors added into the media. Fetal bovine serum of 0.1 volume fraction was added in blank control group. The media in the other three groups were added bFGF, BDNF and bFGF+BDNF respectively for 1 week.The concentration of bFGF was 10 μg/L and the concentration of BDNF was 200 μg/L.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunocytochemistry staining was used to identify NSCs as well as to detect the differentiation of NSCs into neurons.RESULTS: The monoclonal calls expressed nestin and the differentiated call expressed neuron specific enolase and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Compared to blank control group, the proportion NSCs into neurons in the bFGF group, BDNF group and bFGF+BDNF group were much higher (t=3.409-7.558, P < 0.05), with the highest in bFGF+BDNF group (t =7.558, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Combination of bFGF and BDNF can promote the differentiation of adult hippocampus NSCs into neurons.

BACKGROUND: For the purpose of keeping the merits of traditional actual cautery, we improved traditional actual cautery and developed a pistollike electrocautery which has the function of heating and spraying oilpreparation (it has been issued national patent, patent number: 17634; patent number of medical electrocautery: 872106187). OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of unique electrocautery of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on treating chronic tonsillitis as compared with cautery.DESIGN: Random sampling and case-controlled study.SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Surgical Department of Liaoning Oncology Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 80 patients with hypertrophy of tonsil were selected from the Department of Otolaryngology of the Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1989. Inclusion criteria: degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy, without other serious cardiovascular and cerebral diseases, and consent. Exclusion criteria: attempted cauterization, cease of treatment, incomplete case history having complication, and not acceptance. Totally 40 patients were coincidence with the criteria including 22 males and 18 females aged from 5 to 40 years.METHODS: Mild and potent cauterization was adopted according to whether there was chronic congestion in tonsil. For patients with degree Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with large size cautery was adopted at 700-800 ℃, if with chronic congestion,potent cauterization with large or middle size cautery at 500-600 ℃ and mild cauterization was adopted; For patients with degree Ⅱ of hypertrophy of tonsil without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with middle size cautery was adopted at 700-800 ℃, if with chronic congestion, mild cauterization with middle or small size cautery was adopted at 500-600 ℃; for patient with first degree of hypertrophy of tonsil without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with small size cautery was adopted at 600-700 ℃, if with chronic congestion, mild cauterization with small size cautery was used at 500 ℃. Cauterization of TCM was not of rather good therapeutic effect on degree Ⅰ of tonsil hypertrophy than on degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of hypertrophy of tonsil. Regardless of which degree of hypertrophy of tonsil and congestion, mild cauterization should be adopted at low degree of heat if there was pain radiating to the ear region or pharyngopalatine arch becoming surface-like structure. The average interval between each cauterization was 2-3 days.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Size of tonsil and histological changes of patients with degrees of Ⅱ and Ⅲll tonsil hypertrophy after cauterization.RESULTS: Totally 40 patients with degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy were treated with cautery without any loss. ① Tissues were thickened after each cautery, 38 cases received only 4-10 times of cauterization, and half of the total number of the patients received 7-8 times of cauterization (9/22.5%, 9/22.5%). ② Electrocautery could reduce course of treatment to 1/4 of that of actual cautery. Degree of hypertrophy of tonsil was of no direct ratio to cauterizing times in that 22 patients with degree Ⅱ of hypertrophy of tonsil received 4-10 times of cauterization; while 18 cases of patients with degree Ⅲ of hypertrophy, 2 patients received 13 times of cauterization, the other received 7-10 times of cauterization. ③ A patch of black and brown cauterized scab was formed after each electrocautery on the surface of tonsil; superfical layer was of faveolate structure with different sized eosin dyed mesh; the deep layer was of dull grey oblique and interdigitating cord like structure with necrotic tissues without being dyed and survival lymphocyte in the space between cord, the lymphocyte had the changes of karyo pyknosis and nuclear fragmentation or disappearing of red dyed nuclear. Compared with actual cautery, cauterization of necrotic layer was obviously thickening and easy to exfoliate in electrocautery of TCM. ④ After 24 hours of cauterization, necrotic tissues migrated to normal lymphatic area presented with such inflammatory changes as vascular dilation, widening of lymphocyte space and infiltration of neutrophil. The degrees of above mentioned changes between electrocautery of TCM and actual cautery achieve no significant difference and the inflammatory changes disappeared in 4-5 days.CONCLUSION: Because of high temperature, few cauterized times and short course, electrocautery of TCM has a remarkable effect on degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy; however, various textures, degrees of hyperemia, ages and co-operations can cause different cauterized times.

Objective To identify the pathogen of an influenza epidemic situation and analyze the genetic characteristic of hemagglutinin( HA ) gene and neuraminidase(NA) gene of this pathogen. Methods Real-time RT-PCR was used to dectect nucleic acid of the pandemic( H1N1 ) 2009 virus from oropharyngeal swabs of initial influenza-like illness in epidemic. The viruses were was inoculated and isolated with embryonated eggs. And the HA gene and NA gene were sequenced to analyze their characteristic. Results The influenza epidemic situation was caused by the pandemic( H1N1 ) 2009 virus. The HA and NA sequences data showed that the virus had the high homology with reference virus, and the NA sequences had not the H274Y mutation. Conclusion In this study, the pandemic( H1N1 ) 2009 virus were similar with the vaccine-like virus and the isolated virus of China, and sensitive to oseltamivir.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical results of plate on the metatarsal side to reconstruction of tarsometatarsal joint dislocations secondary to diabetic charcot foot.

METHODSSeven patients (9 feet) patients with tarsometatarsal joint dislocations secondary to diabetic charcot foot were treated with plating from April 2012 to December 2014. All patients were male, and 5 cases were on the unilateral side and 2 cases were on the bilateral sides. The age of patients ranged from 45 to 52 with an average of 48 years old. The history of diabetics was from 6 to 15 years. X-ray and CT were used to evaluate fractures healing,and AOFAS was applied to estimate recovery of joint function.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 19 months. All incisions were healed at stage I . No infection, loosening and breakage of internal fixation, bone nonunion were found after operation. According to postoperative X-ray and CT results, the time of fracture healing ranged from 10 to 20 weeks with an average of 16 weeks. Six feet got excellent results, 2 good and 1 moderate based on AOFAS scoring.

CONCLUSIONTarsometatarsal joint dislocations secondary to diabetic charcot foot treated with plate on the metatarsal side could obtain stable fixation and got satisfied early clinical results.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Diabetes Complications ; surgery ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Female ; Foot Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Tarsal Joints ; surgery