Amblyopia is a developmental abnormality that results from physiological alterations in the visual cortex and impairs form vision. Based on multimedia, visual perceptual learning was widely applied in amblyopia treatment. Perceptual learning provided an impor-tant new method for treating amblyopia both in children and adults, and it reflects alterations of neural responses in the visual pathway. The therapeutic efficacy of perceptual learning was related to age, amblyopic types and degrees, training time and programs closely.

To explore an easily executive and conveniently generalized method with effectiveness and low costing for myopia screening at the early stage.Research was performed to testify the reasonability of using axial length/corneal radius (AL/CR) for myopia screening in children by comparing the cost between AL/CR plus vision acuity (VA) and simple VA examination.Chinese school-aged children in Yangfang school district,Beijing (n=1427,aged 6～12 years old) were randomly grouped for either pure VA examination or for VA plus AL/CR examination.Those suspicious myopic children were informed for further refractive examination.Finally,the cost from screening to definite diagnosis of refractive error was calculated.Generally,compared with VA examination,the total cost was reduced by 15.12％ and by 12.34％,respectively,in the elder group using VA plus AL/CR examination.VA plus AL/CR examination is an economical and reasonable method for screening suspicious myopia in Chinese school-aged children compared with pure VA examination.

Objective To study the normal macular thickness in children provide reference for the diagnosis of macular thickness abnormity in teenagers.Methods Databases including Wanfang,Pubmed and some others were searched for studies on macular thickness in Asian children.Data of macular thickness were extracted and were merged into only one by formulae.Results 12 studies were enrolled.The mean foveal minimum and central macular thickness were 143.89±17.32μm(n=2062 eyes) and 181.60±17.93μm(n=1974 eyes),respectively.The eight areas of inner circle (1～3mm diameter) and the outer circle (3～6mm diameter) macular thickness were also calculated.The central macular area seemed thicker in pre-school children than school children.Conclusion Chidren's macular thickness have different characteristic from adults',so it is important to take age,refraction,axial length,race and sex into account before making an abnormal macular thickness diagnosis.Meanwhile,a large sample of population-based cross-sectional study in children is necessary for a more effective standard.

Objective To study the distribution of genotypes of Candida albicans isolated from different body sites of patients with candidal vulvovaginitis(CVV).Methods PCR was designed to amplify group I intron-containing region in25S rDNA of Candida albicans.The strains of Candida albicans could be classified into three genotypes:genotype A(~450bp),B(~840bp)and C(~450bp and~840bp),on the basis of different ranges of bands of amplicons.Results Sixty women with CVV were recruited,of whom54were caused by Candida albicans.Among the54patients39had non-recurrent CVV and15had recurrent CVV(RCVV).Candida albicans could be isolated simultaneously from different body sites in32of54patients,including19(19/39)with non-RCVV and13(13/15)with RCVV.A total of92strains of Candida albicans were isolated from vagina,tongue and anus in54patients with CVV.Eighty strains of genotype A,8of genotype B and4of genotype C were found.The same genotypes of Candida albicans in different body sites were identified in24patients,and the different genotypes were identified in8patients.Conclusion Genotype A is predominant in CVV.The other two genotypes(B and C)are not commonly seen,and mainly isolated from non-vaginal sites.The colonization of Candida albicans in the non-vagina sites is more frequent in RCVV than that in CVV,and the intestinal reservoir theory may play a role in the relapse of RCVV.

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in acupuncture for pain threshold at different time points among the groups of 9 TCM constitutions.

METHODSThe cross-sectional survey was adopted to investigate TCM constitutions among 600 subjects and determine 9 TCM constitution types (neutral constitution, qi-deficiency constitution, yang-deficiency constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, phlegm-damp constitution, damp-heat constitution, blood-stagnation constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, special diathesis constitution). The same acupuncture manipulation was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) on the left side in the subjects and the needle was retained for 30 min. The tenderness threshold was detected with 2390 type Von Frey apparatus at different time points, named before acupuncture, at the moment after qi arrival, in 10 min of needle retaining, in 30 min of needle retaining and in 15 min after needle withdrawal in the subjects of 9 TCM constitutions.

RESULTSThe interactive effect happened between the constitution type and time point (P < 0.05). Among the groups of 9 TCM constitutions, the pain threshold values at the moment after qi arrival (except blood-stagnation constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, special diathesis constitution) in 10 min of needle retaining and in 30 min of needle retaining were increased as compared with those before acupuncture separately (P < 0.01), among which, the value increase was the most significant in 30 min of needle retaining. The differences in the pain thresholds were significant in 15 min after needle withdrawal in the groups of neutral constitution and damp-heat constitution as compared with those before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). In 10 min of needle retaining and in 30 min of needle retaining, as compared with the group of neutral constitution, the changes in pain thresholds of the rest abnormal constitutions were apparently lower (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) presents different effects among the groups of different constitution types. The effect maintaining durations are different.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pain Management ; Pain Threshold ; Yang Deficiency ; therapy ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of deep electroacupuncture on carlilage tissue in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rabbits. Meth-ods 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal group (A, n=10) and model group (n=30). The model group was modeled KOA with Hulth-Telhag way, and identified with X-ray. Then they were divided into no-treated group (B, n=10), deep electroacupuncture group (C, n=10) and routine electroacupuncture group (D, n=10) randomly. The groups C and D accepted electroacupuncture since 6 weeks after modeling, for 4 weeks. They were measured with pH of joint fluid, observed structure and pathology of cartilage under transmission electron microscope, detected apoptosis index, and determined the expression of acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p53 with Western blotting, and distribution of ASIC1 with immunohistochemistry in cartilage tissue. Re-sults The pHs of joint fluid from high to low were ranged as the groups A=C>D>B (P<0.01). The cartilage structure was more complete in the groups A, C and D than in the group B. The apoptosis rates from less to more were ranged as the groups A=C

Objective To evaluate Zeus robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods Forty patients were divided into two groups receiving respectively Zeus robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group A, 20 cases), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group B, 20 cases). A variety of clinical parameters were evaluated. Compared between these two groups. Results Camera clearing (1.1?1.0) times and time used for operation field adjustment in group A (2.2?0.7) min were significantly less than those in group B (4.5?1.5,7.5?1.2) min. Dissection actions(337?86)times and operative errors(10%) in group A were less than those in group B(389?94) times,25%. The operation time(104.9?20.5) min and setup time (29.5?9.8) min in group A were longer than those in group B (78.6?17.1) min,(12.6?2.5) min. The blood loss,and postoperative hospital stay were similar. There were no postoperative complications in either groups, and conversion to open surgery was done in one each patients. Conclusions Compared with laparoscopic technique, Zeus robotic surgical system offers greater ability of controlling operation field, precise and stable operative manipulations though it requires longer operation time.

Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is the most common cause of senile dementia, accounting for an estimated 60% to 80% of cases, but there are no approved drugs to slow or stop the progressive clinical decline in the past years.Amyloid cascade hypothesis is recognized as the major etiologic basis for AD, however, the failures of several amyloid plaque-targeted programs have led many to dismiss the amyloid beta (Aβ) hypothesis of AD. Several reports show that soluble oligomers of Aβ (AβOs), which appear in brains more than 10 years before the clinical syndrome, are more toxic than Aβ plaque, causing synaptic dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis. Some agents that can effectively inhibit Aβ oligomer formation or block their toxicity made significant efficacy in clinical 2 and 3 trials, with the potential to be approved for the treatment of AD. This article reviews the recent development of AD drugs targeting Aβ oligomers, analyzes their structural characteristics, mechanism of action, preclinical and clinical data, and discusses the future direction of AD treatment, thus providing new strategies for AD drug research.

Human maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM) hydrolyzes linear alpha-1,4-linked oligosaccharide substrates, playing a crucial role in the production of glucose in the human lumen and acting as an efficient drug target for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The amino- and carboxyl-terminal portions of MGAM (MGAM-N and MGAM-C) carry out the same catalytic reaction but have different substrate specificities. In this study, we report crystal structures of MGAM-C alone at a resolution of 3.1 Å, and in complex with its inhibitor acarbose at a resolution of 2.9 Å. Structural studies, combined with biochemical analysis, revealed that a segment of 21 amino acids in the active site of MGAM-C forms additional sugar subsites (+ 2 and + 3 subsites), accounting for the preference for longer substrates of MAGM-C compared with that of MGAM-N. Moreover, we discovered that a single mutation of Trp1251 to tyrosine in MGAM-C imparts a novel catalytic ability to digest branched alpha-1,6-linked oligosaccharides. These results provide important information for understanding the substrate specificity of alpha-glucosidases during the process of terminal starch digestion, and for designing more efficient drugs to control type 2 diabetes or obesity.
Acarbose ; chemistry ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Intestines ; enzymology ; Kinetics ; Maltose ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation, Missense ; Oligosaccharides ; chemistry ; Pichia ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; genetics ; Substrate Specificity ; Surface Properties ; alpha-Glucosidases ; chemistry ; genetics

To prepare recombinant human retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) by using the baculovirus expression system and to detect its immunogenicity, the fusion DNA fragment of secretory signal peptide SS64 and human RBP4 gene was subcloned into a baculovirus transfer vector pFastBac-dual(pFBd), and the corresponding recombinant transfer plasmid was transformed into E. coli strain DH10bac, after transposition recombinant shuttle bacmid was screened out. The logarithmic phase Sf9 cells were transfected with the recombinant bacmid and then the recombinant baculovirus containing hRBP4 expression box were generated. After amplification of recombinant baculovirus, the recombinant baculovirus seeds were obtained. To express human RBP4, logarithmic phase Sf9 cells were infected with the virus seeds and SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to detect and identify the expression. Finally, to prepare a batch of RBP4 protein, logarithmic phase Sf9 cells in suspension culture were infected with recombinant baculovirus seeds and the supernatant was harvested after 120 hours post-infection for purification. Finally for preparation of polyclonal antibody and evaluation of immunogenicity, the recombinant hRBP4 from insect cells and from E. coli were immunized rabbits. Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing confirmed that the recombinant baculovirus transfer plasmid was constructed correctly, and subsequently recombinant RBP4-bacmid was generated successfully. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis suggested that human RBP4 protein was highly expressed in Sf9 cells with the molecular weight of approximately 23 kDa. The recombinant RBP4 protein could be secreted into the medium efficiently, and the expression level was calculated amount of 100 mg/L. Finally the rabbit antiserum was harvested after recombinant RBP4 immunization, therein the titer of antiserum against baculovirus recombinant RBP4 is 1:100 000 whereas the titer of antiserum against E. coli recombinant RBP4 is only 1:10 000. Overall, human RBP4 was high efficiently expressed successfully with good antigenicity in baculovirus system, and high affinity antiserum was obtained. A solid foundation was laid for the next step of the preparation of human serum RBP4 detection kit.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Insecta ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Sf9 Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection