Objective To investigate the ideal methods for correction of lower eyelid retraction by lateral canthal anchoring.Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 126 patients(207 eyelids) operated on between June 1999 and 2005 by one senior surgeon.The age of the patients ranged from 28 to 72 years(mean,46 years).Transcanrhal canthopexy was used in 20 patients(33 eyes);The 3 mm tarsal strip procedure was used in 35 patients(57 eyes);Transcanrhal canthopexy combined with Hamra's lower blepharoplasty was used in 26 patients(45 eyes).The tarsal strip procedure combined with Hamra's procedure was used in 45 patients(72 eyes).75 patients(123 eyes) were followed up for 6～12 months.Mean follow-up time was 8 months. Results Of them,125 patients were uniformly satisfied with their cosmetic and functional outcome at last follow-up;one patient had undercorrection of retraction.There were no major complications and only one minor complications(corneal irritation from graft sutures),which resolved in the early follow-up period.Conclusions The lateral canthal anchoring is an effective,aesthetic,and functional treatment for moderate to severe lower eyelid retraction resulting from multiple causes.This procedure is associated with predictable results,a low morbidity rate,and high patient satisfaction.

Circulating cell-free nucleic acids are defined as extracellular DNAs or RNAs in blood with physiological or pathological origins. Previous studies showed that the concentration of cell-free nucleic acids in the blood of cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy people. Further studies showed that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of circulating cell-free nucleic acids are relevant to cancer development and progression, including mutation, hypermethylation, loss of heterozygosity, change of integrity, and abnormal expression of microRNAs. Detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids shows promising potential in cancer screening, diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis.

Objective To observe the effects of IFNα-2b on keloid fibroblasts in cell prolifera-tion, apoptosis, expression of hTERT and bcl-2 mRNA and to explore its anti-keloid mechanism. Methods Primary cultures of dermal fibroblasts derived from 8 keloid and 8 normal skin samples were established, strains of fibroblasts at passages 3 to 4 were used in this study. Keloid and normal skin fibroblasts in culture medium in vitro were given IFNα-2b and were obsevered in different time. The proliferation of the fibroblasts was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis was analysed by flow cytometry(FCM), and the expression of hTERT and bcl-2 mRNA were obsevered by semi-qnantitativere verse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The data were analyzed by statistical software (SPSS11. 5). Results IFNα-2b could inhibit the growth of keloid and nomal skin fibroblasts. The suppression of keloid and nomal skin fibroblasts was time-dependent. After the effect of 10 000 U/ml INFα-2b on cultured fibroblast of keloid and normal skin,the fibroblasts apoptosis was induced and the expression of hTERT and bcl-2 mRNA was lower than that of controlled group . The result was significantly different between control group and treatment group and was related with the treatment time of INFα-2b (P<0.01). Conclusions As a negative regulatory factor,interferon α-2b can suppress growth and proliferation of keloid fibroblasts and induce apoptosis. Decreasing the telomerase activity of keloid fibroblasts may be one of the most important mechamisms. That IFNa-2b inhibited telomerase activity in keloid fibroblasts is an important pathway that may play a key role in the anti- keloid therapy.

AIM:To investigate the changes of visual development produced by monocular atropinization in rats.
METHODS: Twenty normal SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group ( n = 10 ) and atropinization ( experimental) group ( n=10 ) . All the left eyes were selected as the experimental eyes, and the right eyes served as the normal eyes. The left eyes in atropinization group was produced by 1% atropine, 3 times a day and the right eyes in control group was treated with normal saline, 3 times a day. The flash visual evoked potentials ( F-VEP ) and retinoscopy refraction of the rats'both eyes were detected at five time points:0, 7, 14, 21, and 28d after atropinization, respectively. After 28d, six rats were randomly selected from both groups and each group had three rats. The expression of the c- fos mRNA was observed in both visual cortexes. Another six rats were chosen for the same test after 2d dark environment with 2h light later. The expression of c-fos mRNA was detected again.
RESULTS: After 14d anisometropia was observed in experimental group, the difference was 3. 9D ( P<
0.0 5 ) , F-VEP P1 wave of the rats left in experimental group was reached to 88. 9±1. 889ms at 21d, there was statistical difference compared with the right eye ( P<0.05). After 28d, c-fos mRNA expression in the left visual cortex of rats in the experimental group was higher than that of the right side, but there was no significant difference. But when underwent 2h light stimulation after in the darkroom 2d, the c-fos mRNA expression in in the left visual cortex of rats in the experimental group was 5 times higher than that of the right side, there was a statistically significant difference (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: In the critical period of visual development, monocular chronic atropine in rats can form anisometropia, may delay the transmission of the optic nerve, hinder the normal development of the visual cortex. Monocular atropinization in rats can be used as the model of anisometropia.

Objective To investigate the relationship between truncating mutations of APC gene and sporadic colorectal cancer,and analyze the feasibility of non-radioactive protein truncation test (PTT) in the detection of mutations of APC gene.Methods Ninety-six samples of sporadic colorectal cancer tissues ( including 44 patients with colonic cancer and 52 patients with rectal cancer) were obtained from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from September 2008 to September 2010.The mutation cluster region of the APC gene was screened using digital PTT labeled with fluorescent Lys-t-RNA,with a polymerase chain reaction fragment amplified from genomic DNA serving as a tenplate for in vitro translation.The occurrence of gene mutation was determined according to the emergence of truncated peptides.The mutation cluster region of the APC gene in 46 samples of colorectal cancer tissues was analyzed by direct sequencing.The detection rates of the 2 methods were compared by chi-square test.Results Thirteen (26％) truncated peptides were detected in the 50 samples of colorectal cancer tissues.The mutation type of 4 samples is nonsense mutation,which resulted in emergence of truncated gene products.Eleven (24％) truncated peptides were detected in the 46 samples of colorectal cancer tissues.There was no significant difference in the detection rates between PTT and direct sequencing ( x2 =0.033,P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Truncating mutations of APC gene are common alterations in sporadic colorectal cancer in the Chinese.Digital PTT labeled with fluorescent Lys-t-RNA is rapid and high-sensitive in screening gene mutations.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma Coptidis and Cortex Phellodendri,which has a long medical history in China.Recent studies have indicated that berberine has multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory,anti-microorganisms,anti-cancer,cardiac protection,glucose lowering,regulating lipid metabolism and immune suppression.Berberine has been used for the treatment of intestinal infectious diseases for many years.With the continuous progress of the research,it is reported that berberine has many new clinical applications,including treatment of the cardiovascular disease,metabolic syndrome and its complications,cancers,abdominal adhesions and chlamydia trachomatis infection.This review is intended to introduce the role of berberine in various aspects of pharmacological effects,molecular mechanisms and clinical applications.

BACKGROUND:Due to the importance of pedicle adjacent structures, once the screw replacement appears a deviation, adjacent structures may be damaged, leading to extremely serious consequences. Although the security of screw placement in thoracic vertebral pedicle-rib complex is significantly greater than that of pedicle screws, the mechanics of the pedicle-rib complex at different cross-sectional areas of the screw are rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe mechanical property of different cross-sectional area screws in the middle and upper thoracic vertebral pedicle-rib complex.
METHODS:Five specimens of adult cadaveric thoracic spine (T 1-T 10 ) and adjacent rib segment (50-60 mm long) were used. The bone density of specimens was measured using difunctional bone density testing machine, and osteoporotic vertebral body was excluded. The position of the screws was detected with CT images. The maximal withdrawal force of the pedicle screw was measured with biomechanical force test machine.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Thirty-eight specimens at normal bone density were implanted with 25 screws (5.5 mm), 25 screws (6.0 mm) and 26 screws (6.5 mm). Because the pedicle screws destroyed the pedicle-rib complex and perforated the vertebral body, we final y obtained the withdrawal force of 68 screws. The axial withdrawal force of pedicle screws at different diameters was (812.36±147.22) N, (868.64±160.48) N and (946.48±157.58) N, respectively. There were significant differences between the 5.5 mm screws and the 6.5 mm screws (P<0.05). Experimental findings indicate that, the pedicle screws (diameter>5.5 mm) are suitable in the middle and upper thoracic vertebral pedicle-rib complex due to strong internal fixation and clinical requirement.

Objective To study the effects of Dengzhan Shengmai (DZSM) capsules on the autophagy in brains after cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=10), 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group (n=10), 3-MA-control group (n=10), DZSM group (n=10) and DZSM-control group (n=10). The middle cerebral arteries were occluded for 1 hour and re-perfused in all the rats except the sham group. The 3-MA and 3-MA-control groups were injected 3-MA or normal saline (NS) into the right lateral ventricle 1 hour before operation. The DZSM and DZSM-control groups accepted DZSM or NS by gavage daily for 3 days since 4 hours after reperfusion. The rats were assessed with Longa's score 3 days after operation, and the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 in the brain were detected with immunofluorescent labeling and Western blotting; and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with chemiluminescence in the DZSM and DZSM-control groups. Results The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 increased in the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere, especially in the cortex and striatum surrounding the infarct core (P< 0.001, compared with the sham group). The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 decreased in the 3-MA group compared with the 3-MA-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001). The expression of LC3-II and Beclin1 decreased in the DZSM group compared with the DZSM-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001) and level of ROS (P<0.001). Conclusion Inhibition of autophagy after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion plays a role in neuroprotection, which may be a way of DZSM to work.

Animals ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; Female ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; therapeutic use ; Trigonella

BACKGROUND:Thoracic lumbar segment is prone to spinal tuberculosis, caseous necrosis tissue, dead bone compression of spinal cord and nerve root may cause neurological symptoms, and the majority of them is accompanied with mild and moderate spinal kyphosis deformity. Surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis has been frequently reported in recent years, the commonly used treatment includes lesion clearance, bone graft fusion and internal fixation. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the principle of choosing different internal fixation treatment for thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis. METHODS:42 patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis were involved in this study from January 2001 to December 2011. Al patients suffered from waist and back pains, with the disease course range of 1 month to 7 years. Four cases showed neurological deficit before surgery. According to the Frankel classification, 1 case was graded as Frankel C and 3 cases as Frankel D. The preoperative average Cobb angle of kyphosis was 27° (range 12°-45°). The internal fixation approaches were chosen according to the tuberculose focus and vertebral fracture extent. Thoraco-abdominal approach for thoracolumbar spine via diaphragm with the removal of 11 rib and(or) 12 rib was performed for al patients. Among these protocols, 25 cases underwent anterior focal debridement and bone grafting. 17 cases had anterior focal debridement and posterior pedicle screw internal fixation (one-stage surgery in 7 cases and second-stage surgery in 10 cases). Al patients received anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy before and after operation. 36 cases used rib and 6 cases used iliac bone as bone graft. Al patients were fol owed up from 17 months to 9 years. The correction of spinal deformity, spinal stability and spinal functional recovery were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:30 patients were fol owed up after operations and the back pains disappeared. X-ray examination showed that, al patients were fixed wel without no loosening and rupture, and achieved bony fusion (the mean time were 5.4 months). No tuberculosis recurred. Four cases complicated with spinal cord injury were E grade according to the Frankel classification. The Cobb angle was 0-26° (mean 14°) at 12 months after operation. On the premise of standard anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, various internal fixation methods can be determined according to general conditions of patients and tuberculose focus site.