Recently,the incidence of Alzheimer's disease has been significantly increasing.However,the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease remains unknown.It is presumed that insulin and insulin receptor may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.The relationship between insulin and cerebral glucose metabolism,the relationship between insulin,insulin receptor,insulin resistance and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease as well as the possible mechanism are reviewed in this paper,and the progress of treatment of AD is also described.

BACKGROUND:Double inferior vena cava (DIVC), usually found at routine autopsies, is rare in the clinic. It has been described in numerous reports over the years since Adachi first depicted it in 1940. But all these reports were based on two-dimensional (2D) observation, and no three-dimensional and animated images reported. OBJECTIVE: To observe and establish the digital visible models of the structure of DIVC of the Virtual Chinese Human Male (VCH-M) Ⅲ.DESIGN: Repetitive measurement design by taking VCH-M Ⅲ as the subjects.SETTING : Department of Traumatic Orthopedics and Anatomy, Nanfang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in Southern Medical University from February 2006 to May 2006. The cross-sectional images of fresh tissues from VCH-M Ⅲ dataset were reviewed and 1 060 serially-sectioned slices of VCH-M Ⅲ, from the 2 600th slice to the 3 660th were taken as the source for the 3D models in our study.METHODS: Cross-sectional images of fresh tissues from the VCH-M Ⅲ dataset were reviewed and the structures of the DIVC were confirmed on a section-by-section basis. 3D computerized reconstructions of DIVC and its adjacent structures were generated from these data using Arnira 3.1 (TGS) imaging software.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cross-sectional images and 3D reconstruction of VCH-M Ⅲ.RESULTS: The cross-sectional images of the VGH-M Ⅲ could fairly display the main structure of DIVC. The digitized model of brachial plexus offers unique insights into the abnormity anatomy of DIVC.CONCLUSION: The VCH-M Ⅲ dataset can provide complete and accurate data of DIVC.

Animals ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Regeneration ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Ventricular Remodeling

Background The application of femtosecond laser in the corneal refractive surgery has made great progression recent years,but the morphology characteristic of corneal stroma surface after making-flap of femtosecond laser is closely concerned.Objective This study was to analyze the influence of photodisrnption of femtosecond laser on the corneal stroma surface and to investigate the effect of different laser pulse energy on the sudace ultrastructure of corneal stroma.Methods Corneal flaps were made with Visu Max femtosecond laser in 16 fresh porcine eyes with the pulse energy 125 nJ,155 nJ and 195 nJ respectively,and Moria-M2 microkeratome was used as control.Scanning electron microscopy (S-3400N Hitachi High-Technologies Corp) was used to observe and compare the ultrastructural characteristic of corneal stroma bed surface after making of corneal flap.Results The corneal strnma was evaporated and created a smooth surface when photodisrnption happened in the femtosecond laser group.Residual tissue bridges could been exhibited among the cavitation bubbles under the scanning electron microscope.Corneal strnma surface was smooth in the 125 nJ pulse energy group,but some tissue bridges still were visible.In the 155 nJ pulse energy group,much more smooth surface was seen without tissue bridges and mechanical damages on the corneal surface.However,the surface quality was worse and many tissue bridges and grooves existed in the 195 nJ pulse energy group.In addition,different sizes of slots caused by big cavitation bubbles were visible with the round and oval shape.The edges were regular and sharp with small damage zone after cutting with femtoseeond laser.However,many elevated fibril tissues could be seen on the corneal surface after making of flap with microkeratome.Many crimp and irregularity tissues were found on the surface.Blunt surface and indentations appeared in the cutting edge.Conclusions The mierostrueture of corneal stroma surface is more smoother after making of corneal flap with fentosecond laser in comparison with microkeratome.Pulse energy of 155 nJ is preferably during the making-flap with femtosecond laser.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of midazolam on human ether-a-go-go (hERG) K+ channels exogenously expressed in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSWhole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record WT, Y652A and F656C hERG K+ current expressed in HEK-293 cells.

RESULTSMidazolam inhibited hERG K+ current in a concentration-dependent manner, the half-maximum block concentrations (IC50) values were (1.31 ± 0.32) µmol/L. The half-activation voltage (V1/2) were (2.32 ± 0.38) mV for the control and (-1.96 ± 0.83) mV for 1.0 µmol/L midazolam. The half-inactivation voltage (V1/2) was slightly shifted towards negative voltages from (-49.25 ± 0.69) mV in control to (-57.53 ± 0.53) mV after 1.0 µmol/L midazolam (P < 0.05). Mutations in drug-binding sites (Y652A or F656C) of the hERG channel significantly attenuated the hERG current blockade by midazolam.

CONCLUSIONMidazolam can block hERG K+ channel and cause the speed of inactivation faster. Mutations in the drug-binding sites (Y652 or F656) of the hERG channel were found to attenuate hERG current blockage by midazolam.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Midazolam ; pharmacology ; Mutation ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology

Bronchi ; Child, Preschool ; Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumopericardium ; etiology ; Spinal Diseases ; etiology

Ear, Middle ; surgery ; Eustachian Tube ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

Objective · To investigate the smoking hypertensive elderly, find out the status of smoking in this population, and explore effective system intervention. Methods · The smoking hypertensive elderly in Waigang Town of Shanghai who received free antihypertensive drugs were recruited to investigate and descriptively analyze the smoking status of them with questionnaires. Results · There were 77.6% of the smoking hypertensive elderly who began to smoke in the age of 13 to 25, and nearly 70% smoking for more than 40 years. There were 59.5% of these people smoking 11 to 29 cigarettes daily in recent 3 years, and 41.6% spending 200-299 yuan on smoking monthly. Conclusion · Currently almost 70% of the smoking hypertensive elderly, who receives free antihypertensive drugs, have been smoking for more than 40 years, and the average number of cigarettes smoked daily is big. It is clear that the health education attached to the policy of providing free antihypertensive drugs has not changed the behavior. Therefore, medical personnel still needs to contact the illness and smoking hazards to help the elderly reduce smoking. Besides, it proves that tobacco control should be implemented in the young population to control epidemic at the early stage.

Objective · To investigate the prevalence of passive smoking among pregnant women in Shanghai and to analyze its influencing factors and to provide the basis and suggestion for making related intervention measures to reduce the harm of secondhand smoke on the health of pregnant women. Methods · From July to October 2014, pregnant women and their spouses were recruited for a questionnaire investigation at the antenatal care clinics of 3 maternity hospitals and 3 community hospitals in Shanghai. The questionnaire included demographic information, family basic situation and cognitive status of passive smoking. Results · The passive smoking rate before pregnancy in the 2831 pregnant women, who were involved in the investigation, was 17.1%. The passive rate during pregnancy was 7.8%. The difference between these two rates was statistically significant (P<0.05). 71.0% of the pregnant women have passive smoking for 15~59 min each day. Relative to home and work place, the passive smoking rate of pregnant women in public place was the highest (P<0.05). The passive smoking rate of pregnant women was significantly associated with the educational level of smoking spouses and the attitude of pregnant women when they faced the smokers. Conclusion · The passive smoking rate of pregnant women is influenced by the educational level of their spouses and the pregnant women's feedback to the smokers face to face. Public places are the most important exposure places to secondhand smoke for pregnant women. In order to reduce the harm from passive smoking to pregnant women and their fetuses, the related measures of smoking control at home education and smoking ban in public place should be made.

Objective To investigate the association between arsenic(+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Methods Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-RFLP-SSCP) technology was performed to detect mutations of AS3MT gene intron 8 and exon 9 in genome DNA of the 79 cases and 110 controls.PCR products with abnormal band forms were further sequenced to find the types and sites of mutation.Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic analyses were conducted.Results The incidence of the 9149 base mutation(A→C) in AS3MT gene intron 8(AS3MT-9149) in case group(19.0％,15/79) was lower than that in control group (23.6％,26/110).The incidence of the codon 287 mutation(ATG→AT/CG) in AS3MT gene exon 9(AS3MT-287)in case group(10.1％,8/79) was lower than that in control group (11.8％,13/110).However,statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in both mutations between two groups[AS3MT-9149:odds ratio(OR) =0.59,95％ confidence interval(CI):0.26-1.31,P =0.195; AS3MT-287:OR =0.85,95％ CI:0.32-230,P =0.751].Conclusions There are no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms of AS3MT-9149,AS3MT-287 and the susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Similarly,due to small sample amount,we can not exclude the possibility that these gene polymorphisms are related to susceptibility to endemic arsenism.