Objective To compare the effect of extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification. Methods Three hundred and twenty-six cases (360 eyes) of senile cataract were divided into two groups by random digits table with 163 cases (180 eyes) in each. One group underwent phacoemulsification (phacoemulsification group),and the other group underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with small incision(no-phacoemulsifieation group). A comparison was carried out between the two groups of the vision and complications after operation. Results In phacoemulsification group,7 d after operation 18.33%(33/180)had 0.4 or less in vision,66.11%( 119/180) were 0.5-0.9,15.56%(28/180) were 1.0 or better. In no-phacoemulsification group,7 d after operation, 18.89% (34/180) were 0.4 or less in vision,66.67% (120/180) were 0.5-0.9,14.44% (26/180) were 1.0 or better. During operation,posterior capsular ruptured and vitreous prolapsed in 4.44% (8/180) in phacoemulsification group and 3.33%(6/180) in no-phacoemulsification group. Corneal edema:there were 16.11%(29/180) in phacoemulsification group and 17.22%(31/180) in no-phacoemulsification group. The curative effect between the two kinds of operation mentioned above was almost the same and had no significant difference (P ＞0.05). Conclusion The no-phacoemulsification is simple and economical, wihch is suitable for basic hospitals.

Deconstruction of lignocellulosic plant cell walls to fermentable sugars by biochemical means is impeded by several poorly understood ultrastructural and chemical barriers. Pretreatment is an essential step by altering the morphological and compositional characteristics of biomass to enhance the sugar release during enzymatic hydrolysis. Therefore, getting insight into this field is necessary to improve the conversion of biomass into biofuels. In this review, we highlight our recent understanding on the impact of various promising pretreatments on biomass, with emphasis on the topochemical and ultrastructural changes of plant cell walls that are related to the reduction of recalcitrance and the consequence of saccharification. It will lend support to the scientific research and development with respect to biomass conversion.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbohydrates ; chemistry ; Cell Wall ; ultrastructure ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Lignin ; chemistry ; Plant Cells ; ultrastructure

Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; pathology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Palatine Tonsil ; pathology

Objective To compare the clinical utility of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gammacarboxyprothrombin (DCP) in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with a hepatic mass.Methods From January 2015 to May 2015,141 patients were diagnosed to have a liver tumor after imaging examinations in the Hepatobiliary Surgical General Hospital of PLA,Beijing,China.Preoperative AFP and DCP were measured using commercial assay kits.The reference standard was either pathologic or clinical diagnosis of HCC.The performance of AFP and DCP in diagnosing HCC was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results Of 141 patients,98 were diagnosed to have HCC and 43 without.The levels of AFP were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those without [80.0(3.9-1 375.0) μg/L vs.2.1 (1.6-3.2) μg/L,Z =6.98,P ＜ 0.01].Similar results were observed in the levels of DCP [141.5 (24.0-978.0) AU/L vs.19.0 (14.0-25.5) AU/L,Z =5.18,P ＜ 0.01].Receiver operating curves (ROC) indicated the cut-off value with the best sensitivity and specificity was 3.6 μg/L for AFP and 35 AU/L for DCP.The difference in the area under ROC between AFP and DCP was not statistically significant (0.87 vs.0.78,Z =1.72,P =0.085).The sensitivity and specificity for detection of HCC in patients with a hepatic mass were 56.1％ and 95.4％ for AFP ＞ or =20 μg/L,69.4％ and 83.7％ for DCP ＞ or =40 AU/L,respectively.The level of AFP was associated with DCP in patients with HCC (x2 =9.12,P ＜ 0.01,r =0.292) and parallel testing of AFP and DCP gave an optimal sensitivity of 79.6％ with a specificity of 81.4％ in diagnosing HCC.Conclusions DCP is a useful biomarker and it gave an equal performance as AFP in diagnosing HCC in patients with a liver mass in this study.Parallel testing of AFP and DCP effectively increased the diagnostic sensitivity.Although the biomarkers only marginally improved the diagnostic results,it could be useful in diagnosing HCC in individuals who had atypical imaging results.

BACKGROUND: It is discovered by administrating different emetics to vomiting animals, like cats, that there are a large amount of Fos positive neuronal expressions in the arc region from nucleus of solitary tract, lateral tegmentum to ventrolateral area. And it has been viewed that the arc region from area postrema, nucleus of solitary tract to ventrolateral reticular structure is the main emetic region. Whether do the non-vomiting animals reflect in response or not after emetic injection?OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution of Fos positive neurons in relevant emetic regions of brain and spinal cord in rats after abdominal injection of emetic, cisplatin.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment based on animals.SETTING: Neural Physiological Research Room of Life Science College in Hebei Normal University and Physiological Room of Basic Medicine Institute in Hebei Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Neural Physiological Research Room of Life Science College in Hebei Normal University and Physiological Room of Basic Medicine Institute in Hebei Medical University from March to August 2003. Twelve SD male rats were employed, body weighted varied from 220 to 250 g, of clean-grade. They were randomized into experimental group of 6 rats and the control of 6 rats.INTERVENTIONS: In experimental group, the emetic, cisplatin, was injected abdominally 10 mg/kg. In the control, the physiological saline of same dose was injected. Afterwards, the activity changes in rats were observed at room temperature, quiet and light-avoided environment. Six hours later, the brain tissue was collected for frozen continuous sectioning. Immunohistochemical staining method was used to observe the distribution of Fos positive neurons in brainstem and forebrain nuclei and to count positive cell.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Behavior observation in rats after emetic injection. ② Counts of Fos positive cell in relevant regions of brain in rats.RESULTS: Twelve rats all entered result analysis. ① In 20 minutes after injection, the rats in both groups were in tranquilizing state, lying prone with body curled, almost without any movement. In 60 minutes after injection, the rats in the control were recovered to normal, free of eating or drinking. The rats in experimental group were in prone-lying state with body curled. They rose up or shook the heads occasionally, and they breathed fast and uneven.In 2 hours after injection, in experimental group, the rats were still in abdominal prone tightly in the cage, with heads lowed and irregular shaking of noses. In 5 hours, the rats in experimental group began standing up and moving, with normal breathing, but they still did not eat or drink. ② Fos positive neurons in solitary tract, area postrema and lateral parabrachial nucleus and paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and arc nucleus in hypothalamus (64.3 ±9.6, 83.4 ±15.0, 148.8 ±19.9, 80. 2 ± 11.8, 20.7 ±3.8, 86. 6 ± 10.8) were remarkably higher than those in the control(56. 2 ±6.3,73.5±9.9,136.9±17.8,66. 1±10.3,17.3±3.4,78.8±10.5).CONCLUSION: Emetics induce discomforts in internal organs of rats, due to which, there probably exist emetic regions similar to vomiting animals in central neural system. But it is probably lack of vomiting-related adjusting mechanism. Emetics irritate the increase of Fos positive neurons in relevant regions in the brain of rat, which suggests that there exist relevant neural chemical pathways similar to nausea in the brain of non-vomiting rats.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of thalidomide plus mometasone furoate cream under occlusion and ultraviolet irradiation for the treatment of prurigo nodularis.Methods A non-randomized,parallel,controlled study was carried out.Eighty patients with prurigo nodularis were divided into 3 groups,i.e.,control group(no irradiation),ultraviolet A1(UVA1)group,and ultraviolet B(UVB)group.All the patients were treated with oral thalidomide and topical mometasone furoate cream under occlusion.Additionally,the patients in UVA1 group and UVB group received UVA1 and NB-UVB irradiation,respectively,thrice a week for no less than 8 weeks.Patients were evaluated at the baseline,and on day 30 after the beginning of treatment.Clinical outcome parameters included disease severity score and visual analogue scales for pruritus.Peripheral blood eosinophils were counted during each visit.Rank sum test was performed to compare the clinical efficacy between the 3 groups,and the relationship between peripheral blood eosinophile count and visual analogue scales for pruritus was analyzed.Results After 30 days of treatment,skin lesions were markedly improved in 5 (21.74％),13(43.33％)and 9(37.5％)patients,and improved in 7(30.43％),12(40％)and 7(29.17％)patients,in the control group,UVA1 group and UVB group respectively;a marked response in pruritus was noted in 7(30.43％),18(60.00％)and 14(58.33％)patients respectively in the control group,UVA1 group and UVB group.The efficacy on skin lesions and pruritus was significantly stronger in the UVA1 group and UVB group than in the control group(skin lesions:Z =8.21,5.22,both P ＜ 0.01;pruritus:Z =4.50,4.50,both P ＜ 0.01),but similar between the UVA1 group and UVB group(skin lesions:Z =0.50,P ＞ 0.05;pruritus:Z =0.35,P ＞ 0.05).Peripheral blood eosinophil count was positively correlated with the visual analogue scale for pruritus in the patients(r =0.53,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Thalidomide combined with mometasone furoate cream under occlusion and ultraviolet irradiation shows notable efficacy for the treatment of prurigo nodularis,and the combination with UVA1 or NB-UVB irradiation enhances the efficacy of thalidomide and mometasone furoate cream under occlusion.

Objective To explore the effect of schisanhenol on adipokine expression in 3T3-L1 adipocyte and its related mechanism. Methods 3T3-L1 adipocyte was cultured in vitro and induced to differentiation and maturity. Glucokinase was added to culture medium to make an oxidative model. The expression of adipocytokines were detected under the circumstance of different doses and at different time points of schisanhenol. Results The expression of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin were decreased with the increase of glucokinase concentration. Concentration-dependent inhibition effect was most obvious in leptin (25 mU/ml Glucokinase vs Blank group, t =7.29, P＜0.01). With pretreatment of oxidative stress, the adipocytokines increased as the doses of schisanhenol increased (t=6.31,P＜0.01 in adiponectin;t=5.92, P＜0.01 in leptin; t=3.77, P＜0.05 in resistin; t=3.63,P＜0.05 in visfatin). With the extension of schisanhenol effect, the expression of four adipokines showed the process of first decrease-then increase'. The effects of schisanhenol on adipokines were parallel with the alteration of oxidative stress. Conclusions Schisanhenol increased adipocytokines expression in 3T3-L1 adipocyte by reducing oxidative stress, and the increase of leptin and adiponectin were most obvious, which indicated that schisanhenol could play a role in the treatment of diabetes by Chinese herb wuweizi.

BACKGROUND: During xenogenic liver transplantation, major histocompatibility antigen can induce immunological rejection, and immunosuppressant can cause adverse effect on organism. Recently, treatment prior to transplantation induces immune tolerance, which is perspective for organ transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between thymus induction and immunological rejection during liver transplantation. METHODS: A total of 40 male SD rats of clean grade were selected as donors. Moreover, 30 male Wistar rats of clean grade and 10 male SD rats of clean grade were selected as recipients. The donor rats were divided into allogeneic gene transplantation, allotransplantation, cyclosporine, and thymus induction groups, with 10 rats in each group. The modified Kamada and improved two-cuff technique was used to establish a stable rat orthotopic liver transplantation model. The cyclosporine group was given cyclosporine (50 mg/kg) for 5 successive days. Thymus induction group was injected with major histocompatibility antigens (50 pL) for 5 successive days. Other groups were not given any interventions. Survival time of rats was recorded in each group. Pathological observation and mixed lymphocyte cultured were performed at days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Survival time was longer in the thymus induced group compared with other groups (> 60 days), damaged level was mild, local immunological rejection was reduced, and lymphocytes were decreased. The effect after liver transplantation was similar to allogeneic gene transplantation but superior to cyclosporine intervention (P < 0.05). This suggested that thymus induction relieved immunological rejection following liver transplantation.

Objective To explore the possible mechanism of SchA ,which decreases MPP+induce SH-SY5Y cell damage .Meth-ods Cultured cells were divided into 5 groups ,one as control group ,cultured by free-blood serum media;the other 4 groups were treated with different concentrations of SchA(1 ,3 ,5 μmol/L) and MPP+ (1 mmol/L) for 48 h named model group ,1 ,3 ,5 μmol/L SchA group respetivly .The content of nitric oxide(NO) were measured by NO kit ;The expression levels of total Akt and p-Akt proteins were detected by Western blot .Results Compared with the control group ,the content of NO in group significantly in-creased after MPP+stimulating(P<0 .05);compared to the control group ,the content of NO in 5μmol/L SchA group significantly decreased(P<0 .05) .The expression levels of total Akt in all groups had no significant difference(P>0 .05) .The expression levels of p-Akt in model group significantly lowered ,while SchA(1、3、5 μmol/L) significantly increased the expression levels of p-Akt in comparision with cells in model group .Conclusion Decreasing MPP+ induced SH-SY5Y cell damage of SchA may be related to the content of NO and p-Akt expression .

BACKGROUND:It is reported that gelatin sponge particles and chitosan/α, β-glycerophosphate gel microspheres have high application prospects in the treatment of hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis.METHODS: Forty SPF Kunming mice were selected to make animal models of pulmonary tuberculosis hemoptysis using aerosolized inhalation device and randomly divided into two groups undergoing embolization for hemostasis using gelatin sponge particles and chitosan/α, β-glycerophosphate gel microspheres, respectively. Body mass changes, hemostasis time, effective rate of hemostasis, related indexes of myocardium and pathological changes of pulmonary tuberculosis were observed at 15 and 30 days after treatment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Mice in the chitosan/α, β-glycerophosphate gel microspheres group had higher body mass than those in the gelatin sponge group at 15 days after treatment (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the gelatin sponge group, the hemostatic efficiency was higher and the time of hemostasis was shorter in the chitosan/α, β-glycerophosphate gel microspheres group (P< 0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in the levels of BNP precursor, creatine kinase isoenzyme and creatine kinase between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) The lymphocyte infiltration and necrotic lesions were found around the microspheres, necrotic lesions were found, and there were a lot of active cells on the microspheres. There were a few lymphocytes in the gelatin sponge group. These results show that that the chitosan/α, β-glycerophosphate gel microspheres have better hemostatic effects in comparison with gelatin sponge particles in a mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis.