Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology

AIM: To investigate the antioxidant effect of hydralazine under hypoxia-induced damage on retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this effect.METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells were used to investigate the effect of hydralazine on oxidative stress, including tert-butyl hydroxyperoxide (t-BHP), H2O2, sodium azide (NaN3), and hypoxia induced cell damage. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay.RESULTS: When ARPE-19 cells were treated with oxidative stress induced by ROS, hydralazine showed concentration-dependent protection against t-BHP, H2O2 and hypoxia induced cell damage but not NaN3. Nitric oxide (NO) was not involved in this effect.CONCLUSION: Hydralazine showed antioxidant potential against oxidative stress induced damage in ARPE-19 cells. These effects might be caused through scavenger of ROS. Thus, hydralazine could be used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AIM: To study the effects of naringenin eye drops on NaIO3-induced retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat eyes.METHODS: The 35mg/kg NaIO3-induced RPE degeneration was prevented by 10g/L naringenin eye drops 3 times a day for 7 days in advance of NaIO3 injection, and then 2 to 4 weeks thereafter, RPE function was measured with C-wave of electroretinogram (ERG). The laser-induced CNV rats were treated with laser to break the Bruchs membrane and the CNV formation was prevented by 10g/L naringenin eye drops instilled 3 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. The CNV formation was measured with fluorescein angiography (FA) and flat mount. RESULTS: Two weeks after NaIO3 injection, the amplitude of ERG C-wave fell markedly in NaIO3 group to 53% of normal group (P<0.01). No apparent difference was observed in naringenin+ NaIO3 group. Four weeks later, the NaIO3 group fell to 37% of normal group (P<0.01), while the naringenin+ NaIO3 group fell to only 57% of normal group (P<0.01). There is a 52% reversal of the ERG C-wave by naringenin as compared to NaIO3 treated group (P<0.05). Two weeks and four weeks after laser treatment, naringenin reduced the CNV formation to 53% and 49% of control group (100%) measured by FA (P<0.01). Four weeks after laser treatment, naringenin reduced the CNV formation by 47% as compared to control group measured with flat mount (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Naringenin significantly protected RPE from NaIO3 induced degeneration and can also prevent CNV formation.

·AIM: To study the effects of 10g/L hydralazine eye drops on 35mg/kg NaIO3-induced degeneration in rat eyes. · METHODS: Various doses of NalO3 and/or saline alone were injected into Brown Norway rats from hypoglossal vein. After 3, 7, 14 or 28 days of injection, ERG a-, b-, c- wave, fast oscillation (FO) and light peak (LP) were measured along with retinal colored pictures and fluorescein angiography taken. Some rats were chosen to study the histology of retinas by light microscopy and autofluorescence of retina flatmounts. Different concen- trations of NaIO3 were given to RPE-19 cells, and cell proliferation rate was measured. For hydralazine study, 35mg/kg NaIO3 was injected into Brown Norway rat from hypoglossal vein. NaIO3 group was treated with saline alone after NaIO3 injection, 10g/L hydralazine + NaIO3 group was treated with 10g/L hydralazine eyedrops after NaIO3 injection whereas normal group was treated with saline alone without NalO3 injection. All eyedrops were instilled locally 3 times a day for 4 weeks and ERG c-wave was measured at the end of 2 and 4 weeks.· RESULTS: After NaIO3 administration, the amplitude of all ERG waves fell markedly in large dose groups at 30, 40 or 60mg/kg NaIO3. Not many changes were observed in groups treated with < 30mg/kg NaIO3. Some retinal necrosis appeared from 3 days post-injection (PI) in 30mg/kg NaIO3 group, which became more serious in larger dose groups or longer treatment time, but no apparent change was found in smaller dose groups. Similarly, on the retina flatmount, RPE monolayer showed necrosis from 3 days PI in the 30mg/kg NaIO3 and larger dose groups. On histological examination, no significant change was seen in 30mg/kg NaIO3 and lower concentration groups. In cell culture experiment, changes were found in RPE-19 cells proliferation rate with a concentration of NaIO3 at 30mg/L or higher. In hydralazine experiments, 4 weeks after injection of NaIO3, ERG c-wave fell markedly in NaIO3 group to 31% of control group (P < 0.01). The ERG c-wave of hydra- lazine + NaIO3 group fell only to 50% of control group (P<0.05). This was a 61% reversal of the c-wave of NaIO3 treated group. · CONCLUSION: RPE degeneration induced by NaIO3 was both dose and time dependent. Around 30 to 40 mg/kg NaIO3 would be the optimal to be used as a non-exudative age-related macular degeneration rat model. Hydralazine may postpone the development of non-exudative age- related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVETo report the experience with extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (EP-LRP) in the treatment of prostate cancer.

METHODSSixty-five patients with diagnosed localized prostate cancer underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

RESULTSThe procedures were successful in 64 cases. Mean operating time was 172 min (range 100 to 440 min). Mean blood loss was 340 ml (range 150 to 800 ml). Seven (10.8%) of the 65 patients received transfusion with MAP of 24 units. Rectal injury occurred in 1 patient, 2 developed urethrovesical anastomotic leakage, 6 (9.2%) had positive surgical margins, 58 (89.2%) were fully continent with urination 3 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONEP-LRP, as a safe and feasible procedure for prostate cancer, which avoides violation of the peritoneal cavity, potentially decreases the risk of intraoperative complications and further reduces postoperative morbidity, is well worth popularizing.

Aged ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of proliferation effect induced by (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19).METHODS: Human retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effect of (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on cell growth,and their mechanisms of proliferative action by using ERK、 AKT、PI3K、Protein kinase C (PKC)and Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors.RESULTS: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 dose-dependently increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation,but not on HUVECs. When treated with proliferative inhibitors,H7(5μmol/L)、hypericin(20μmol/L)、PD98059(2μmol/L)、LY294002(50μmol/L)、SH-5 (10μmol/L) and L-NAME (100μmol/L),the proliferative effect was reduced by H7、hypericin、PD98059 and LY294002,but not by SH-5 and L-NAME.CONCLUSION: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 can induce cell proliferation through MAPK and PI3K dependent pathway. KEYWORDS: age-related macular degeneration; (R,R)-XY-10; (S,S)-XY-10; ARPE-19 cells; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; proliferation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm that constitutes less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal neoplasm. The aim of this study was to figure out its clinicopathologic characteristics that are not well understood. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of nineteen patients (9 males and 10 females) with histologically proven appendiceal adenocarcinoma. They had been treated at Asan Medical Center between June 1989 and December 2002. Their median follow-up duration was 72.5 months. RESULTS: Their median age was 56.5 (range, 33~80) years. Thirteen patients had mucinous variants and the other five had adenocarcinoma. Seven patients (36.8%) were diagnosed as acute appendicitis. In fact, none of the patients was diagnosed correctly before surgery. The operative procedure, included right hemicolectomy in 9 patients, appendectomy alone in 2 patients, and debulking of their tumors or a biopsy in 8 patients. The 5-year survival rate was 20.5%. The patients with mucinous type had better prognosis than those with the non-mucinous type (p<0.01). In the patients with mucinous type, the survival rate after debulking operation was similar to that after right hemicolectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The most important prognostic factor of primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma was histology. The outcome of debulking operation is being watched compared with that of right hemicolectomy in mucinous variant.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/mortality/surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Appendiceal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/surgery ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) include a broad spectrum of defects of various gene products that affect intermediary metabolism in the body. Studying the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of those inherited disorder, systematically summarizing the disease phenotype and natural history, providing diagnostic rationale and methodology and treatment strategy comprise the context of human biochemical genetics. This session focused on: (1) manifestations of representative metabolic disorders; (2) the emergent technology and application of newborn screening of metabolic disorders using tandem mass spectrometry; (3) principles of managing IEM; (4) the concept of carrier testing aiming prevention. Early detection of patients with IEM allows early intervention and more options for treatment.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Neonatal Screening ; Phenotype

Purpose: To study the use of low temp ophthalmic cautery tip in performing continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and the effect of heat produced by cautery on the corneal endothelium Materials and Methods: The tip of an ordinary low temp ophthalmic cautery was improvised with the use of stylet of a Simcoe I&A, fashioned like a Sinskey IOL manipulator. 20 rabbits were used in this experiment -10 right eyes served as cases and 10 left eyes as controls. In the experimental eyes, viscoelastic was injected prior to a 7mm capsulorhexis; in the control eyes, no capsulorhexis was done. The cornea of both experimental and control were removed in toto and submitted for histopathologic studies Results: A complete capsulorhexis was performed in all 10 experimental eyes. The anterior capsular flap adheres to the advancing cautery tip; continuous and circular capsulorhexis was observed. There was no significant difference observed between the experimental and control groups regarding endothelial cell loss Conclusion: The modified low temp ophthalmic cautery tip produced a complete capsulorhexis, with no effect on the corneal endothelium.
Human ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; PHACOEMULSIFICATION ; CAPSULORHEXIS ; CRYSTALLINE LENSCAPSULE ; CAUTERY

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate efficacy of tiotropium as add-on therapy on top of standard regimens for uncontrolled asthma, specifically in terms of FEV1, morning and evening PEF, reduction in exacerbations, rescue medication use, and quality of life improvement.
METHODS: A search was done for eligible trials after which validity screen and data extraction was performed. Results were presented as mean differences, standard errors, and 95% confidence intervals, and graphically as forest plots. Estimates were pooled using the random effects model with I2 and Chi2 tests used to assess heterogeneity. Adverse events were reported as dichotomous variables.
RESULTS: Four studies were included totaling 1617 participants. The tiotropium group had statistically significant improvement in FEV1 (95% Cl, 0.14 [0.09, 0.19], p<0.00001), morning (95% Cl, 20.03 [11.71, 28.35], p<0.00001) with trend towards benefit in reduction of rescue medications (95% Cl, 0.12 [-0.17,0.4],p=0.42) and quality of life improvements (95% Cl, 0.1 [-0.05,0.25], p=0.20). Homogeneity (I2= 0%, Chi2= 0.47-3.22) was found across studies.
CONCLUSION: Tiotropium is associated with significant improvement in pulmonary function among patients with uncontrolled asthma, with possible benefit in reduction of rescue medications and quality of life improvement.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Asthma ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Confidence Intervals ; Quality Of Life ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Scopolamine Derivatives ; Tiotropium Bromide ; Meta-analysis