Background Investigating the association of blue light-induced damage of retinal pigmenepithelial (RPE) cellwith intracellulaCa2+ conteniimportanfounderstanding the mechanism of retinal disorders.Objective Thistudy wato establish blue light-induced damage model of human RPE celland explore the relationship between the damage of RPE cell and intracellulaCa2+ content.MethodHuman RPE cellwere cultured and passaged.Cell vitality waassayed by trypan blue staining.Fourth-generation cellwere used in these experiments.The cellwere exposed to blue lighwith an intensity of (2000±500)lx fo3,6,9 o12 hours,and the rate of apoptosiwaassayed by TUNEL to assesthe optimal irradiation time focellcultured.The cellwere then randomized into the withouirradiation group,irradiation only group,nifedipine group,ligh+ nifedipine group,(-) BayK8644 group and ligh+ (-) BayK8644 group.The laseconfocal microscope waused to determine the fluorescence intensity of intracellulafree Ca2+ aan excitation wavelength of 488 nm and an emission wavelength of 505 nm.The cell imagewere analyzed using computesoftware.The differenceof fluorescence intensity among the differengroupwere compared by one-way analysiof variance.ResultTrypan blue staining showed thathe viability of RPE cellwamore than 90％ afteculturing and passaging.No apoptoticell waseen aftelighexposure fo3 hours.However,differennumberof apoptoticellappeared aftelighexposure fo6,9 and 12 hours.The fluorescence intensity of intracellulafree Ca2+ in the nifedipine group wasignificantly lowethan thaof the withouirradiation group othe ligh+ nifedipine group(both aP=0.000).Lasescanning confocal microscopy showed thathe fluorescence intensitieof intracellulafree Ca2+ in the irradiation only group,(-) BayK8644 group,ligh+ (-)BayK8644 group were highethan thaof the withouirradiation group,with statistical significancebetween them(all P=0.000).No significandifferencewere found in the fluorescence intensity of intracellulafree Ca2+ between the ligh+ nifedipine group and withouirradiation group awell abetween the (-)BayK8644 group and the ligh+(-) BayK8644 group(P =0.339,P =0.410).ConclusionThe optical conditionfoblue light-induced RPE cell damage were exposure of blue-ligha(2000± 500) lx fo6 hourand culturing the cellfo24 hours.Blue lighexposure can induce damage of human RPE cellprobably by triggering the increase of intracellulafree Ca2+ concentration.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kangxin capsule (KXC) on homocysteine (HCY) and beta-amyloid protein (beta-Ap) in patients with vascular dementia.

METHODSSixty-three patients with vascular dementia were randomly divided into two groups, the 33 patients in the treated group and the 30 in the control group. Basal treatment were given to both groups, besides, KXC was given to the treated group and Hydergine was given to the control group. The levels of plasma HCY, beta-Ap as well as the changes of mini mental state examination (MMSE), activity of daily living (ADL) and TCM Syndrome scoring were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSKXC could significantly decrease the levels of HCY and beta-Ap (P < 0.01), rise the MMSE scores, reduce ADL scores and ameliorate TCM Syndrome.

CONCLUSIONKXC can effectively regulate the levels of HCY, beta-Ap in vascular dementia patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; blood ; Capsules ; Dementia, Vascular ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy

Integrins are a family of cell surface glycoproteins that contribute to a variety of biological functions, including cell growth, migration, proliferation and morphology. In addition, integrins also play the important roles in pathological process. Several viruses have been showed to use integrins as receptors or co-receptors to infect host cells.This article mainly reviews the progress on integrins and their roles in FMDV infection.

Receptors are primary determinant of viral tropism and disease pathogenesis.Heparan sulfates (HS)are ubiquitous,polyanionic carbohydrate chains linked to core proteins in cell membranes and ex- tracellular matrices of all eukaryotes.HS have also been demonstrated to function as receptors or co-receptors for a number of different viruses.To date,HS and four RGD-dependent integrins,?v?3,?v?6, ?v?1,and?v?8 have been reported to serve as receptors for Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV).Different receptors may be used to interact with host cells during FMDV infection.Studies on the structure and function of receptors are very important for understanding the interaction between host cells and FMDV. Here,We mainly reviews the progress on the biological characteristics of HS and its roles in FMDV infection.

OBJECTIVETo study spiral CT cholangiography (SCTC) before treatment in patients with obstructive jaundice due to unknown cause.

METHODSBetween October 1998 and November 2000, a total of 59 patients with obstructive jaundice of unknown cause were examined by two-phase enhanced spiral CT (eSCT). Twenty-nine of these cases were excluded because they had had T-Bil of > 34 micromol/L so that their biliary duct system could not have been visualized. The remaining 30 patients were 17 male and 13 female with an age range of 31 - 76 years (mean 56.6). Pathologically, the lesion was proven to be carcinoma of pancreatic head (n = 9), Vater's ampulla carcinoma (n = 4), extrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 13), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1), chronic pancreatitis (n = 1) and cholelithiasis (n = 2). SCTC was performed through intravenous injection of 20 ml 50% Cholografin within 20 min before eSCT. SCTC was undertaken with parameters of a slice thickness of 2 - 3 mm, a table feed of 3 - 5 mm, a gantry time of 0.75 sec, a reconstruction interval of 1 - 2 mm, a pitch of 1.1 - 1.2, a voltage of 120 kV, a current of 220 - 240 mA, a matrix of 512 x 512 and a scan range from the level above hepatic hilum to the third segment of duodenum within 60 - 105 min following the injection. Both reconstructed SCTC source images and later eSCT scans were considered as axial CT (ACT). Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) was obtained immediately on the operator console. 3D imaging adopted in our study was volume rendering technology (VRT) that was processed on the Siemens 3D Virtuoso workstation within 30 min. Opacification of biliary tree (OBT) analyzed by Grades 1 to 5 and image quality (IQ) assessed by 4 scales as excellent, good, fair and poor were investigated in ACT, MPR and VRT, respectively. The correlation between total OBT, which was the highest among the 3 image methods in the same case, and T-Bil, D-Bil, ALT, severity of the biliary obstruction (SBO) as well as level of the obstruction was analyzed.

RESULTSIn OBT, no statistically significant difference was found in the five grades by the three imaging techniques (P > 0.05), the distribution of percentages being 0, 0, 13.3%, 30.0% and 56.7% in ACT, 0, 6.7%, 20.0%, 30.0% and 43.3% in MPR and 0, 0, 13.3%, 40.0% and 46.7% in VRT. The evident correlation between total OBT and D-Bil (r(s) = -0.719), ALT (r(s) = -0.544) and SBO (r(s) = 0.650) was showed. In IQ, only a statistical significance existed between ACT and MPR (P = 0.034), having the scales "excellent to poor" in percentages of 93.3%, 6.7%, 0 and 0 for ACT, 66.7%, 30.0%, 3.3% and 0 for MPR and 70.0%, 23.3%, 6.7% and 0 for VRT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAccording to our study, spiral CT cholangiography is very useful for the evaluation of selected patients with suspected obstructive jaundice before treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Cholangiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of health education on the symptoms, lung function and life quality in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). METHODS: Eighty-two patients were assigned into 2 groups randomly: The treatment group (n = 43) accepted health education for 6 months and the control group (n = 39) did not. Before and after the 6 months, we observed the number of smokers, Borg score, inhale treatment, times of acute episode, SGRQ score, lung function, and the therapeutic effect in the two groups. RESULTS: Six months later, the ratio of smokers in the treatment group was 13.95%, much lower than that in the control group (35.90%, P = 0.021); the Borg score of the treatment group decreased from 4.86 +/- 1.21 to 3.38 +/- 0.94 (P =0.000), but there was no difference in the control group; the ratios of accepted inhale treatment in the treatment group and the control group were 100% (43/43) and 20.51 % (8/39) respectively (P = 0.000), and the accuracy rates were 100% (43/43 ) in the treatment group and 12. 82% (5/39) in the control group (P =0. 000); the times of acute episode in the treatment group was 1.51 +/- 1.53, much lower than that in the control group (4.46 +/- 5.17, P = 0. 000); the indexes of lung function before and after the 6 months between the two groups had no significant difference. The total score, the symptom section score, the activity section score, and the impact section score of SGRQ after the 6 months of health education were much lower than those of 6 months before, and those in the control group had no significant difference. CONCLUSION Six months of the health education can decrease the ratio of smokers and the times of acute episode, and to improve the life quality of patients with stable COPD.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; physiopathology ; psychology ; rehabilitation ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of the reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen on the indication spectrum for intrauterine insemination (IUI).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 111 cycles of IUI by the reference values for semen analysis in the 4th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual (group A) and 84 cycles by the 5th edition (group B). We recorded and compared the percentages of various indications for IUI between the two groups.

RESULTSThe complications for IUI in groups A and B were as follows: asthenospermia (87.4% [97/111] vs 55.9% [47/84], P < 0.05), oligospermia (0 vs 0), teratospermia (51.4% [57/111] vs 35.7% [30/84]) , abnormal liquefaction (0.9% [1/111] vs O) , sexual dysfunction and genital malformation (0 vs 3.6% [3/84] , immune infertility (0.9% [ 1/111] vs O), and unexplained infertility (3.6% [4/111] vs 2. 4% [2/84 ] ). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentages of all the indications except that of asthenospermia.

CONCLUSIONThe reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen have an evident influence on the indication spectrum for IUI by largely reducing the cases of IUI for male factors, prolonging the cycles of some patients, causing excessive diagnosis and treatment for females, and increasing their mental and economic burdens.

Adult ; Contraindications ; Female ; Humans ; Insemination, Artificial ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; World Health Organization

Objective To assess the effective length of jejunal graft when the 3~(rd) intestinal artery is u- tilized as vascular pedicle and afford a reliable theoretic base for clinical esophageal reconstruction.Methods In 32 formalin preserved and 21 fresh cadaver specimens,the diameter of 1st to 5th intestinal arteries and diameter of arterial arches are measured with linear calibre.Measure the length of jejunum that can be harves- ted as graft when the arches are extended.In the 21 fresh specimens,the 1st,2nd,4th and 5th intestinal ar- teries are ligated,acetic ester stained with red dye were injected into the lumen of 3rd intestinal artery via catheter.Extent of distribution of the arteries to the jejunum was observed.And then red ABS solution was in- jected into the 3rd intestinal artery to make into cast specimen.The blood supply distribution of jejunum through 3rd intestinal artery-arterial arch and communicating system were observed again.Results The di- ameter of the 3rd intestinal artery was the largest among the 1st to 5th intestinal arteries.The length of jejunum vascularized by 3rd intestinal artery can be as long as (142.2?62.3) (69.0～206.60cm) in acetic ester in- filtrated specimens.While in ABS east specimen,the average available extent of donor jejunum was(30.8?7.3) (23.0～37.3cm).Conclusion As observed by this applied anatomy study,the jejunum graft vascu- larized by 3rd intestinal artery alone has sufficient length to meet the need of esophageal reeonstrution.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of male reproductive health among middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory results of 884 middle-aged and older men aged 55 - 89 years from the Xuanwu District of Nanjing present for routine physical examinations, including those of blood routine tests, liver and kidney function, blood glucose, blood lipid, and total prostate specific antigen (TPSA), as well as such reproductive hormone indexes as total serum testosterone (TT), free serum testosterone (fT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). We also obtained the above reproductive hormone indexes from 119 young and middle-aged men aged 20 - 39 years as controls.

RESULTSAging-related changes were found in the 50 percentiles of all the reproductive hormones and relevant parameters but those of TT and E2, with gradual increases in LH, FSH and SHBG and decreases in fT, TSI and fTI. Comparison of reproductive hormones and relevant parameters by Mann-Whitney U test did not show any statistically significant differences in the TT level between any two of the five age groups (20 - 39, 55 - 59, 60 - 69, 70 - 79, and > or = 80 yr) (P > 0.05) except between the control and > or = 80 yr groups and the 60 - 69 and > or = 80 yr groups (P < 0.05), nor in the E2 level between any two groups, nor in the levels of LH and FSH except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups and the 70 - 79 and > or = 80 yr groups, and nor in the levels of fT and TSI except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups. However, there were significant differences in the levels of SHBG and fTI between any two age groups. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that fT, TSI, and fTI were correlated negatively with aging and LH (P < 0.05, I r I > 0.5) but weakly positively with cholesterol, blood glucose and hemoglobin (P < 0.05, /r/ < 0.5), SHBG and LH positively with aging, SHBG weakly negatively with blood glucose and hemoglobin, LH weakly negatively with hemoglobin, and TT weakly negatively with aging but positively with hemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum testosterone, particularly that of fT, declined with aging in middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing, which may contribute to abnormal lipid metabolism, low hemoglobin and high blood glucose.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; analysis ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Testosterone ; blood

Receptors play a crucial role in determining the host specificity and tissue tropism of virus. Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV)has been showed to use four integrins, ?v?1, ?v?3, ?v?6 and ?v?8 as receptors to initiate infection and ?v?6 functions as the major receptor.The cDNA encoding bactrian camel integrin ?6 from the lung tissue was cloned and sequenced. The 2367bp cDNA of bactrian camel integrin ?6 encodes a polypeptide of 788 amino acids consisting of a 26-residue putative signal peptide, a 681-residue ectodomain with 8 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and 58 cysteine residues, a 29-residue transmembrane domain, and a 52-residue cytoplasmic domain with a NPLY motif and 1 potential N-linked glycosylation site. The nucleotide sequence similarity of integrin ?6 between bactrian camel and cattle, pig, sheep, human, mouse, Norway rat is 91.1%、91.8%、90.6%、90.5%、83.7%、84.1%, and the amino acid sequence similarity is 94.3%、93.4%、93.4%、93.7%、88.7%、88.6%, respectively. The bactrian camel ?6 gene exhibited the higher sequence homology with the ?6 gene of cattle, pig and sheep, indicating their close genetic relationships. It is possible that host tropism of FMDV may related to divergence in ?6 receptors among different species.