BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) associated with this disease closely approximates the oxidative damage inflicted on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells by high glucose,in recent years,people devote themselves to the protection of RPE cells extensively.ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of pancreatic β MIN-6 cells on retinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells from high glucose-induced damage.MethodsRPE cells were incubated with normal medium for 4 d and divided into 3 groups:normal glucose group,high glucose group and MIN-6 cells group.RPE cell were exposed with 5 mmol/L normal glucose in normal glucose group,exposed with 30 mmol/L high glucose in high glucose group,and exposed with 5 × 104 MIN-6 cells and 30 mmol/L high glucose in MIN-6 cells group.After 24 h,cell viability of RPE cells was determined by MTT cell viability assay.Results More than 95％ cells showed the brown staining by ABC method.After incubation for another 24 hours,the A550 value was 0.44±0.02,0.30±0.01 and 0.41±0.01 in the normal glucose group,high glucose group and MIN-6 cells group respectively with a significant difference among these three groups (F =19.94,P＜ 0.01 ).The A55o value was significantly higher in the normal glucose group and the MIN-6 cells group compared with the high glaucose group (t =6.85,5.62,P＜0.01 ).The survival rate of RPE cells in the normal glucose group was(97.5±3.3 )％,and that in the high glucose group was ( 68.2 ± 4.5 ) ％,showing significant difference between them ( t =11.30,P＜0.01 ).ConclusionsHigh glucose-induced damage of RPE cells is abrogated,and MIN-6 cells can protect RPE cells from high glucose-induced damage.

OBJECTIVESTo analyze actual conditions of the quality of life (QOL) in junior high school students, we developed a questionnaire based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, and we conducted a survey by using this questionnaire.

METHODSWe conducted a workshop organized with 29 specialists on school health and community health to develop the questionnaire. The QOL outcome was assessed by the QOL Profile-Adolescent Version (QOLPAV). The subjects of the questionnaire surveys were 1600 general students in four junior high schools. To investigate a correlation between QOLPAV, behaviors and three enhancing factors, two different multiple regression models were constructed.

RESULTSThe question battery for QOLPAV was found to be a high value of Chronbach's α. Among present subjects, 16.5% were categorized as "problematic" or "very problematic" classified by QOLPAV scores. In the first multiple regression model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained between the QOLPAV and 4 questions for behaviors, such as "studying with high motivation" (OR 1.64), "getting along well with my friends" (2.72), "having things I am interested in" (1.70), and "making my own decisions" (1.80). In the second model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained commonly between the above 4 questions about behaviors and 2 questions on enabling factors, such as "easy to understand lessons" (1.32-1.71) and "speaking to friends easily" (1.30-3.22).

CONCLUSIONS1) We developed a questionnaire to analyze the actual condition of QOL in junior high school students with sufficient validity and availability. 2) Among the present subjects, 16.5% were found to be problematic QOLPAV, 3) Among the factors of behaviors, those representing positive willing and high coping ability with the elements of each school life contributed significantly to the QOLPAV. And among enhancing factors, "enabling factors" and "reinforcing factors" were stronger contributors to the behaviors strongly related to the QOLPAV than that of "predisposing factors".