Objective To investigate the association of angiotensinogen(AGT)gene A-6G、T174M and G-217A polymorphisms with the risk of essential hypertension(EH)in the elderly of Han nationality.Methods Genotypes of AGT gene A-6G,T174M and G-217A polymorphisms in 177 aged EH patients and 86 sex and age-matched controls were analyzed with gene chip technology.Results The A-6G and T174M polymorphisms of AGT gene were significantly associated with EH.The numbers of the three genotypes of A-6G were 113,58 and 6 in the patient group and 70,15 and 1 in the control group(P= 0.014)and those of T174M were 94,77 and 6,60,25 and 1(P=0.031),respectively.G-217A polymorphism was not related to EH.Individuals carrying A-6G AA and T174M CC genotypes showed 57% and 56% lower risk of EH(OR=0.43;95%CI=0.23-0.82 and OR=0.44;95%CI=0.25-0.79, respectively).Conclusions The A-6G AA and the T174M CC genotype may be related with decreased risk of EH and G-217A polymorphism may have little role in the etiology of EH in Han nationality.

To evaluate the automated segmentation algorithm for detection of intra - retinal layers to process images obtained from ultra- high resolution optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Graph theory and the shortest path search based on dynamic programming were applied to automatically segment the 8 intra - retinal layers. We experimentally verified the accuracy and reliability of the algorithm. The results showed that the intra-retinal layer boundaries between automated and manual segmentations matched well. The algorithm successfully segmented the intra- retinal layers in glaucoma, high myopia, and retinitis pigmentosa patients. The proposed automatic segmentation for intra-retinal layers provides a promising tool for quantitative analysis in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Trachoma, a contagious keratoconjunctivitis ( KC ) , caused by Chlamydia trachomatis infection, is rife in 57 countries in the world at present. The World Health Organization ( WHO) listed the global alliance to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020 as one of top priorities of its blindness prevention in 1998. A simplified classification system for identifying and naming trachoma, designated by WHO, and the SAFE strategy based on community intervention were extended continuously in the world in 10 years since then. The trachoma prevalence trend has showed a change compared with that in the past. China has launched the blindness prevention action, aimed to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2016. In this paper, we reviews progress in diagnosis, treatment and epidemic of trachoma since the extension of the SAFE strategy.

Objective To clone and express the encoding sequence of glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH)from periodic Brugia molayi(Bm).Methods Total RNA was extraeted from periodic Brugic malayi.The BmGAPDH gene was amplified by RT-PCR.The PCR product was cloned and then subeloned into pcDNA3.1(+)vector.The recombinant plasmids were screened and identified by digestion with restriction enzyme and PCR amplification,and were transformed into COS-7 cell subsequently.The expressed protein was identified by SDS-PAGE.Results BmGAPDH mRNA was highiy expressed in transfected COS-7 cell.The deduced amino acid sequence was identical with that of BmGAPDH.The recombinant pnotein wag about Nr 43 000.Conclusion The recombinant plasmid peDNA3.1(+)-BmGAPDH has been constructed and the protein has been expressed correctly.

Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Turbinates ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)), and explore its mechanisms.

METHODSThe rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl(3) solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl(3) solution, respectively. Their abilities of spatial learning and memory were tested by Morris water maze, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in serum was assayed with chemical method, the AChE expression in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and then quantitative analysis was done by BI 2000 image analysis system.

RESULTSLearning and memory deficit of rats could be induced by AlCl(3) solution (P < 0.01), and AChE expressions in rats hippocampus were increased (P < 0.01); GbE ameliorated learning and memory deficit and reduced AChE expression in rats hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner, while GbE significantly increased serum AChE activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg each day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGbE can ameliorate learning and memory deficit induced by AlCl(3), which may be due to its inhibition of the AChE expression in hippocampus.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Structures ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reaction Time

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Yanshu Injection (YI) used in comprehensive treatment on mid-late stage cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty patients with malignant cancer were equally randomized into the comprehensive treatment group (group A) and the control group (group B), both groups were treated systematically according to the NCCN 2005 cancer practice guideline, but 20 ml of YI was given additionally to group A every day.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the level of plasma CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly lower in group B than those in group A (P < 0.05); the response rate (RR) was 32.00% (24/75) and 38.67% (29/75) in group B and A respectively, showing insignificant difference (P>0.05), and the clinical benefit rate (CBR)was 58.67% (44/75) in group A, lower than that in group B (85.33% (64/75), P< 0.05); the quality of life (QOL) in group A was superior to that in group B (P<0.05); and the incidence of main adverse reaction to chemotherapeutic agents was significantly lower in group A as compared to that in group B (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONYI could regulate the function of T-lymphocyte subsets, raise the CBR and QOL and reduce adverse reaction of chemotherapy in patients with mid-late stage cancer.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of aquaporin-1(AQP-1) and aquaporin-3(AQP-3) in the development of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSThe expression of AQP-1 and AQP-3 was investigated using immunohistochemical staining with Streptavidin Peroxidase in tissues from colorectal adenoma (CRA, n=25), colorectal cancer (CRC, n=50), and adjacent mucosa (CRT, n=50).

RESULTSThe positive rate of AQP-1 was 64%(32/50) in CRC, significantly higher than that in CRT (38%, 19/50) and CRA(32%, 8/25)(P<0.05). The expression of AQP-1 was associated with depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis in CRC patients(P<0.05). The positive rate of AQP-3 was 56% in CRT, 44% in CRA, and 52% in CRC. There were no significant differences (P>0.05). The expression of AQP-3 was associated with age, tumor diameter, and depth of invasion (P<0.05). No significant correlation between the expression of AQP-1 and AQP-3 in CRC was shown by Spearman correlation analysis(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAQP-1 expression is increased in CRC while the expression of AQP-3 is not. There is no correlation between the expression of AQP-1 and AQP-3 in CRC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Aquaporin 3 ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Drug Design ; Genomics ; methods ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

Genes related to trehalose biosynthesis from a bacterial strain Micrococcus luteus which can convert partially hydrolyzed starch into trehalose were cloned.Full sequence of gene (MtreY) encoding trehalose maltooligosyl trehalose synthase (MTSase) and partial sequence of gene (MtreZ) encoding maltooligosyl trehalose trehalohydrolase (MTHase) were got using PCR combined non-random shotgun method.Sequence analysis of MtreY predicts a 2370bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 790 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 86734 Da.Homologous analysis shows that this new gene has the same conservative motifs with ?-amylase family enzymes.The MtreY gene was expressed in E.coli, and the expression product has the anticipative enzyme activity.