Background Retinal neovascularization disease is a group of threatening-vision eye diseases.Researches showed that cathepsin B is involved in angiogenesis.Exploring a drug which inhibit retinal blood vessels will provide the basis for the molecular mechanism of these diseases.Objective This study was to investigate the inhibitory role of cathepsin B-RNAi-lentivirus on retinal angiogenesis.Methods Sixty 7-day-old C57BL/6J mice were raised together with maternal mice in the closed box with the oxygen concentration of (75-2)％ for 5 days to establish the retinal angiogenesis mouse models.The mice were then taken into the normal air environment for continuous raise and were randomized into 3 groups.NC-GFP-LV of 1 μl and the equal volume of cathepsin B-RNAi-lentivirus was intravitreously injected respectively in 40 eyes in the control group and the gene treatment group,and no drug was administered in the 40 eyes of the model group.The mice were sacrificed and retinas were obtained.Expression of cathepsin B protein in the retina was detected by Western blot assay (cathepsin B/β-actin).Real-time PCR was used to detect and compare the expression level of cathepsin B mRNA (2△△Ct).FITC-dextran was used to perform heart infusion for the retinal stretched preparation 5 days after intravitreously injection.Retinal neovascularization was examined by fluorescent angiography.Results The expression level (2-△△Ct) of cathepsin B mRNA was 0.74 ±0.12 in the gene treatment group,showing a significant decline in comparison with 1.66±0.17 and 1.58±0.29 in the model group and control group (q--0.746,1.588,P＜ 0.01).The expression level of cathepsin B protein (cathepsin B/β-actin) in the retina was 0.64±0.06,0.93±0.09 and 0.96±0.09 respectively in the gene treatment group,model group and control group,indicating a significant reduce in the gene treatment group (q =0.637,0.894,P＜0.01).Distorted vessels were seen in the mice retinas of the model group with more branches and vascular anastomosis,and fluorescine leakage was exhibited under the fluorescence microscope.However,the vessels were regular with less branches and angiogenesis.Conclusions Cathepsin B-RNAi-lentivirus can effectively inhibit oxygen-induced retinal angiogenesis in mouse.

Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Nose Neoplasms ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal ; pathology

In recent years , fungal biofilms related infection have become an increasingly important clinical problem .Many clinically important fungi can form biofilms , including:Candida albicans , Cryptococcus neoformans , Rhodotorula species , Aspergillus fumigatus, Malassezia pachydermatis, Histoplasma capsulatum.Many chronic persistent infections are associated with the fungal bio-film formation.The developmental phases of fungal biofilms are complicated , including adhesion, colonisation, maturation and dispers-al, which are governed by many genes .This review discusses clinical impact of biofilm formation of the common human pathogenic fun -gi, biofilm structure and the molecular mechanisms during the biofilm formation process .

Humans ; Hong Kong/epidemiology* ; COVID-19

For the detection of steatosis, quantitative ultrasound imaging techniques have achieved great progress in past years. Magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction is currently the most accurate test to detect hepatic steatosis. Some blood biomarkers correlate with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but the accuracy is modest. Regarding liver fibrosis, liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (TE) has high accuracy and is widely used across the world. Magnetic resonance elastography is marginally better than TE but is limited by its cost and availability. Several blood biomarkers of fibrosis have been used in clinical trials and hold promise for selecting patients for treatment and monitoring treatment response. This article reviews new developments in the non-invasive assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Accumulating evidence suggests that various non-invasive tests can be used to diagnose NAFLD, assess its severity, and predict the prognosis. Further studies are needed to determine the role of the tests as monitoring tools. We cannot overemphasize the importance of context in selecting appropriate tests.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Humans ; Liver/pathology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective To explore the level of difficulty in the activity and participation among persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses in Hong Kong SAR. Methods A cross-sectional study with 954 subjects of disabilities and chronic illnesses based on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS 2.0). Results People with disabilities and chronic illnesses were facing moderate to severe level of difficulty in the activity and participation. Their most difficult aspects were found in the domestic responsibilities and social participation. Conclusion The Hong Kong SAR government should explore and adopt the Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework and take the elements of activity and participation into consideration for the planning and formulation of rehabilitation policies and services which in the long run, help safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses and realize the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

No abstract available.

The role of cytokines and transcription factors on the regulation of megakaryocy topoiesis and platelet production are reviewed in this article. Megakaryocytopoiesis involves the proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytic pro genitor cells into immature megakaryocytes, and the differentiation of immature megakaryocytes to mature megakaryocytes which produce platelets. The former is regulated mainly by thrombopoietin (TPO) and to a lesser degree by other cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-3 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), the later by TPO and probably IL-6 and IL-11. A number of transcription factors have been implicated in the control of megakaryocyte differentiation. GATA-1, FOG-1 and Fli-1 are essential regulators in early- and mid-stages of megakaryocytopoiesis. NF-E2 regulates late-stage of megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production. However, the platelet release mechanism is poorly understood. Nitric oxide (NO) may act in the stage of platelet release through induction of apoptosis in megakaryocytes.
Animals ; Cytokines ; physiology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; physiology ; Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors ; GATA1 Transcription Factor ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Interleukins ; physiology ; Megakaryocytes ; physiology ; NF-E2 Transcription Factor ; NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; physiology ; Thrombopoiesis ; physiology ; Thrombopoietin ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; physiology

Discussion is made on three aspects of the Chinese section with regards to desperate translations, mistranslations and inconsistent translation format of the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (Chinese-English bilingual edition), in the hope to provide some constructive references to help perfecting this book.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Language ; Translating ; World Health Organization