AlM:To investigate the protective effect of astaxanthin (AST) on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).METHODS:Human RPE cells were subcultured, cell activity was detected by MTT, rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and cell ultrastructure changes were observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: MTT results showed that cell activity elevated to ( 53. 66%± 3. 25% and 70. 43%± 2. 38% after 10-8 mol/L and 10-4 mol/L AST treated. The difference had statistically significant (P<0. 05) compared with oxidative injury group (38. 76%± 3. 74%). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of RPE cells decreased to 30. 23%± 1. 91% and 12. 58%± 2. 12% in AST pretreated group, the difference was significant (P<0. 05) compared with oxidative injury group ( 42. 50%± 1. 94%); Electron microscopy showed that the morphology of cells gradually improved accompanied with the concentration of AST elevated.CONCLUSlON:AST may inhibit hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of RPE cells, it can provide reliable evidence for pursue effective medicine to prevent and treat retina injury.

A hybridoma cell line(B10)was established by fusing spleen cells of BALB/c mou- se immunized with human thyroglobulin(HTG) with SP2/0 myeloma cells. An averagefusing rate of 6.3% and antibody-secreting positive well rate of 58.3% were obtained.During the first two months, the supernatant of B10 culture had a titer of 1/128 to1/2048 measured by hemagglutination method, and the ascites was positive at 1/64000-128000 and 1/320000 respectively as measured by hemagglutination and radioimmunoass-ay.The B10 cell line is very stable and has very high activity to produce anti-HTGmonoclonal antibodies. After several times of preservation in liquid nitrogen andpassage in culture for one year,a recent determination shows that cell culture super-natant and ascites still have very high titer,being 1/4096 and 1/1048576 respectively asmeasured by hemagglutination method. The chromosome number of the B10 hybridomacell is 99.5?7.4.The success of the establishment of this cell line is briefly discussed.Attempt to establish diagnostic kit with this monoclonal antibody is being undertaken.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and radiologic changes between constrained and non-constrained titanium plate in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) in elderly cervical spondylosis patients.Methods A total of 58 elderly cervical spondylosis patients who underwent ACCF were divided into group 1 (patients treated with constrained titanium plates,n =30) and group 2 (patients treated with non-constrained titanium plates,n=28).The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score,fusion rate,the loss of segmental height and cervical lordosis were recorded.The clinical efficacy and imaging features were compared between the two groups.Results The improvement rate of JOA score had no significant differences between group 1 and group 2 [(77.7±18.6)％ vs.(75.8±23.2)％,t=0.340,P＞0.05].At 3 months after operation,the fusion rate was higher in group 2 than in group 1 (89.3％ vs.63.3％,x2 =5.327,P＜0.05).At 3,6 and 12 months after operation,there were no significant differences in the loss of segmental cervical height and lordosis between group 1 and group 2 [(2.42±3.05)mm vs.(0.98±2.86)mm,(3.95±3.65)mm vs.(2.34±2.97)mm,(3.60±4.33)mm vs.(2.40±2.96)mm,(1.64±2.33)° vs.(0.66 ± ±2.14)°,(2.13∧±±3.79)° vs.(0.70±2.99)°,(2.39±4.26)° vs.(0.86±3.25)°,respectively,all P ＞0.05].Conclusions The clinical efficacy is similar in ACCF with the two types of titanium plates.The non-constrained titanium plate can increase the fusion rate in early time,but may aggravate the loss of segmental cervical height and lordosis,which should be used with caution in elderly osteoporosis patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of adiponectin levels with its related mechanism in diabetic myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and ischemia post-conditioning in experimental rats. Methods: A total of 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: Normal sham (NS) group,n=8, Normal ischemia-reperfusion injury (NIRI) group,n=16, Normal ischemia post-conditioning (NIPO) group,n=16 and Diabetic mellitus sham (DMS) group,n=8, Diabetic mellitus ischemia-reperfusion injury (DMIRI) group,n=16, Diabetic mellitus ischemic post-conditioning (DMIPO) group,n=16. DM rats model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin; IR model was established by occlusion of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120min; IPO model was established by 3 cycles of ischemia for 10s and reperfusion for10s; the rats in Sham group received silk line wrapping of LAD without occlusion. The myocardial infarction (MI) area was measured by TTC staining, plasma adiponectin level was examined by ELISA, the protein expressions of p-Akt and total-Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. Results: Compared with NIRI group, NIPO group had decreased MI area,P<0.05, while DMIRI group and DMIPO group had increased MI area,P<0.01; compared with NS group, NIRI group and NIPO group showed up-regulated expression of adiponectin and p-Akt,P<0.05 and DMS group showed down-regulated p-Akt,P<0.05. Compared with NIPO group, three DM groups presented down-regulated adiponectin and p-Akt,P<0.05. Linear correlation analysis indicated that plasma adiponectin expression level was negatively related to MI area and positively related to myocardial tissue p-Akt expression with the correlation coefifcient at 0.63 and 0.65 respectively, P<0.01. Conclusion: Down-regulated plasma adiponectin expression may cause the inactivation of PI3K/Akt signal pathway and therefore aggravate DM ischemia-reperfusion injury which cannot be protected by ischemic post-conditioning in experimental rats.

Different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may cause similar adverse effects, one of which is diplopia. However, the AEDs causing diplopia and the dose-response effect of each drug remains uncertain. In this study, we compared several second-generation AEDs to find out whether they would contribute to the risk of diplopia and their effect-causing dose. A meta-analysis was performed on 19 studies in agreement with our inclusion criteria. The results showed that eight commonly used second-generation AEDs (gabapentin, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, pregabalin, topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamide) could cause diplopia. The reported odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.406 to 7.996. Ranking risks from the highest to the lowest ORs of the eight AEDs of any dose resulted in the following order: use of oxcarbazepine (7.996), levetiracetam (7.472), lamotrigine (5.258), vigabatrin (3.562), pregabalin (3.048), topiramate (2.660), gabapentin (1.966), zonisamide (1.406). Taking into account the ORs above, we can conclude that second-generation AEDs of any dose may cause diplopia. However, the levetiracetam-caused diplopia needs to be further studied according to the data (OR, 7.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.375-148.772). These findings ask for better concerns about patients' quality of life when giving antiepileptic treatments.

In order to better understand the clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with intracranial hypertension syndrome (IHS), we analyzed the clinical features and treatment of a typical SLE patient with IHS. SLE is one of the most unpredictable autoimmune diseases involving multiple organ systems that is defined clinically and associated with antibodies directed against cell nuclei. IHS is an uncommon manifestation of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) and is characterized by an elevated intracranial pressure, papilledema, and headache with occasional abducens nerve paresis, absence of a space-occupying lesion or ventricular enlargement, and normal cerebrospinal fluid chemical and hematological constituents. IHS has been reported in a few sporadic cases in patients with SLE worldwide, but rarely has been reported in China. In this study, a 34-year-old female SLE patient with IHS was reported and pertinent literature reviewed. The clinical presentation, image logical features, and investigatory findings were discussed.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Intracranial Hypertension/diagnosis ; Intracranial Hypertension/*etiology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*complications ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tibial Fractures ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEIn the recent twenty years, the diaphragmatic contraction, relaxation functions and electric activity have been explored through electromyography (EMG) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) determination. But these techniques required some complex and expensive instruments, so the diagnosis and treatment of children's diaphragmatic fatigue have not been well evaluated. The present study explored the diagnosis of children's diaphragmatic fatigue through measuring ribcage-abdomen motion and analyzed its asynchrony.

METHODSFifty-three children (male 37, female 16, and age rage from 1 months to 9 years) with respiratory rate > 30 breaths/min, heart rate > 110 beats/min, and respiratory dysfunction had asynchronized ribcage-abdomen motion showed by impedance respirograph (IRG). The authors observed whether ribcage-abdomen motion was synchronic and calculated M levels (staggered peak time/total duration of the breathing cycle). The ribcage and abdomen outputs were displayed on vertical (for rib cage) and horizontal (for abdomen) axes of X-Y instrument. In addition, the change of respiratory frequency and heart rate was observed and arterial blood-gas analysis was also performed.

RESULTS(1) M levels in one-dimensional IRG were positively correlated with alpha angle in two-dimensional IRG (r = 0.956, P < 0.001). Asynchronized respiratory motions could be divided into three types. type I showed completely contra-directional movements of respiration, M levels for (48.1 +/- 4.4)%, an irregularly clockwise loop in the two dimensional IRG, and alpha angle for (138.3 +/- 15.0) degrees. In type II, one dimensional IRG showed displaced peak of the chest and abdomen motion curves, M levels were (16.5 +/- 4.7)%, two dimensional IRG was displaced in a counterclockwise direction, and alpha angle was (55.3 +/- 10.8) degrees. In type III, abdominal motion curve of one dimensional IRG had double peaks, M levels were 0, two dimensional IRG was presented as 8-shaped double circles, alpha angle was (41.3 +/- 3.8) degrees; (2) pH levels in the patients with type I and type II diaphragmatic fatigue were significantly lower, and PCO(2) levels were significantly higher than those with type III or in the normal subjects (P < 0.001 for all), but there was no statistically significant difference between type III and the normal subjects (P > 0.05); (3) Both of respiratory rate and heart rate in type I, type II and type III were higher than those in the normal subjects (all P < 0.001), and the differences among the three types were significant (P < 0.001 for all); (4) Both M levels and alpha angle were negatively correlated with pH levels (r = -0.514, P < 0.001 and r = -0.497, P < 0.001), while positively correlated with PCO(2) levels (r = 0.672, P < 0.001 and r = 0.625, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) IRG can be reliably used to diagnose children's diaphragmatic fatigue. This technique is simple and easy to perform and non-invasive. It is therefore worthy of recommending for further clinical investigations. (2) According to the characteristics of IRG, diaphragmatic fatigue can be divided into three types. (3) The development of children's diaphragmatic fatigue has a series of characteristic changes. (4) To avoid the patients suffering from respiratory failure, it is the key time to adopt the policies of prevention and treatment when IRG shows signs of type III diaphragmatic fatigue.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diaphragm ; physiopathology ; Fatigue ; classification ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the peripheral blood lymphocyte of chronic gastritis (CG) patients of Pi-Wei hygropyrexia syndrome (PWHS) and Pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQDS), and to explore their correlation with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

METHODSRecruited were totally 86 CG patients who visited at the clinics of gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including 67 patients of PWHS (30 of predominant-dampness, 30 of equal dampness and heat, and 30 of predominant-heat) and 19 patients of PQDS. Another 12 volunteers from healthy employees and students of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited as the control group. Their peripheral blood was collected. The Hp infection was detected using ASSURE Hp rapid test. The expressions of HSP 70 and NF-kappaB in the peripheral blood lymphocyte were detected using flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe Hp infection rate was 37. 31% in the GS patients of PWHS and 36. 84% in the GS patients of PQDS (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of HSP 70 decreased in the PWHS predominant-heat group, and the expression of NF-kappaB increased in the PWHS predominant-heat group and the PQDS group (P<0.05). The expression of NF-kappaB were higher in the positive Hp infection patients of PWHS and PQDS than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of HSP 70 was higher in the positive Hp infection patients of PQDS than in the negative Hp infection patients of PQDS (P<0.05). Besides, the coefficient correlation was -0. 023 between HSP 70 and Hp infection, and 0. 027 between NF-KB and Hp infection (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe increased expression of NF-KB in the peripheral blood lymphocyte of CG patients of PWHS and PQDS might reflect the pathogenic roles of "inner evil" in Chinese medicine theories. The increased expression of HSP 70 in CG patients of PQDS and decreased expression of HSP 70 in CG patients of PWHS might reflect "vital qi fighting against evils" and "exuberance evils and feeble vital qi" in the body. Hp infection might not be the only factor resulting in the occurrence of PWHS or PQDS.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Helicobacter Infections ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical symptom and effect of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) cysts of the knee.

METHODSClinical data from 12 symptomatic ACL cysts patients from January 2005 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed,including 8 males and 4 females,with an average age of (33.7±9.5) years old (ranged, 19 to 53 years old). The locations were the left knee in 5 cases and the right knee in 7 cases. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 48 months,with a mean of (15.8±13.2) months. All cysts were arthroscopically resected. Range of motion was measured preoperatively and postoperatively, and Lysholm scoring system was used to evaluate the knee function.

RESULTSAll the incisions healed by first intention, and no complications occurred. Twelve patients were followed up for an average of (32.3±6.6) months(ranged, 24 to 48 months). The symptoms of arthralgia,swelling and interlocking of the affected knees disappeared. There was no recurrence during the follow-up. There were significant differences in the range of motion and Lysholm score between pre-operation and post-operation.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic surgery, showing its advantages of minimal invasion and rapid recovery,is an effective measure in the treatment of ACL cysts.

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Cysts ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular