AIM: To investigate the effect of Z,E-butylidedephthalide (Bdph) on laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat model and choroid blood flow in rabbits'eyes.METHODS: Male Brown Norway rats were treated with Nd:YAG laser to break Bruch's membrane. Thirty mg/kg and 15 mg/kg Bdph were given daily through intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks after laser treatment. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and choroidal flat mount were used to measure the development of CNV. Female New Zealand white rabbits' eyes were instilled with 10g/L Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution,and ocular blood flow was measured with colored microsphere technique. RESULTS: The intensity of fluorescein leakage, indicating the ocular lesion, decreased significantly in group Bdph 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg, as compared to the control at P＜0.01.The area of neovascularization checked by FA in both groups of Bdph, at 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg decreased significantly compared to the control group at P＜0.05. On the choroid flat mount, the areas of CNV were also smaller in both Bdph groups than in control group. One percent Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution instilled into rabbits' eyes could improve the choroid blood flow at 30 and 60 minutes after drug instillation (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Z,E-butylidedephthalide could inhibit the development of CNV in the rat eyes and increase the choroid blood flow in the rabbit eyes. These results suggest that Z,E-butylidedephthalide may be a good agent for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).

Ascoviruses, iridoviruses, asfarviruses and poxviruses are all cytoplasmic DNA viruses. The evolutionary origins of cytoplasmic DNA viruses have never been fully addressed. Morphological, genetic and molecular data were used to test if all four cytoplasmic virus families (Ascoviridae, Iridoviridae, Asfarviridae, and Poxvirirdae) evolved from nuclear replicating baculoviruses and how the four virus groups are related. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using DNA polymerase predicted that cytoplasmic DNA viruses might have evolved from nuclear replicating baculoviruses, and that poxviruses and asfarviruses share a common ancestor with iridoviruses. These three cytoplasmic viruses again shared a common ancestor with ascoviruses. Morphological and genetic data predicted the same evolutionary trend as molecular data predicted. A genome sequence comparison showed that ascoviruses have more baculovirus protein homologues than do iridoviruses, which suggested that ascoviruses have evolved from baculoviruses and iridoviruses evolved from ascoviruses. Poxviruses showed genetic and morphological similarity to other cytoplamic viruses, such as ascoviruses, suggesting it has undergone reticulate evolution via hybridization, recombination and lateral gene transfer with other viruses. Within the ascovirus family, we tested if molecular phylogenetic analyses agree with biological inference; that is, ascovirus had an evolutionary trend of increasing genome size, expanding host range and widening tissue tropism for these viruses. Both molecular and biological data predicted this evolutionary trend. The phylogenetic relationship among the four species of ascovirus was predicted to be that TnAV-2 and HvAV-3 shared a common ancestor with SfAV-1 and the three virus species again shared a common ancestor with DpAV-4.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux ; diagnosis ; therapy

Normal rhythm in a healthy human heart originates from the natural biological pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node which locates in the right atrium. SA node dysfunction or atrial-ventricular (AV) conduction block causes improper heart rate (bradycardia). Such dysfunction, if severe enough, is currently treated by implanting an electronic pacemaker which has been well established technically, but there are some limitations and inadequacies. Recently, progress in developing engineered cardiac biopacemakers with use of genes or cells has been made in experimental animal models. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channel (pacemaker channel) modulates cardiac automaticity via the hyperpolarization-activated cation current (I(f)). HCN genes have been delivered to animal myocardium via viral vectors or HCN-transferred cells for recreating biological pacemakers. Approaches with non-HCN genes or transplantation of beating cells are also novel and have been investigated for generating cardiac biopacers. This article summarizes the progresses in research on recreation of cardiac biopacemakers. Genetically engineered biological pacemaker holds great promise to potentially cure severe bradycardia if critical issues, such as their stability and longevity, are properly solved.
Biological Clocks ; physiology ; Bradycardia ; therapy ; Genetic Engineering ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Myocardium ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Sinoatrial Node

Objective To explore the relationship between need for cognitive closure and hardiness of elderly cancer patients, to provide references for nurses health education.Methods Two hundreds and fifty seven elderly cancer patients participated in the survey using chinese version of need for cognitive closure scale and hardiness scale.Results Patients need for cognitive closure score was (128.82 ±12.45), decisive dimension was (54.57 ±6.03) , and the demand for the structure dimension was (74.25 ±7.83) .The overall average score of hardiness was (2.54 ±0.31), the total score was (68.57 ±6.15).Patients’ need for cognitive closure and hardiness was negatively related.Two dimensions of cognitive closure could predict hardiness, combined predict rate was 42.5%.Conclusions The elderly cancer patients need for cognitive closure degree is low and hardiness level is well.Need for cognitive closure could predict hardiness.Nurses should encourage patients to become low need for cognitive closure, to increase the hardiness and improve their quality of life.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether green tea consumption can reduce the risk of adult leukemia.

METHODSA hospital-based matched case-control study was conducted in 2005 - 2006. We recruited 107 confirmed leukemia cases and 110 inpatient controls with orthopedic disease without leukemia or other malignancy matched on gender, age and hospitals that patients stayed. Related information were gathered on quantity, duration and frequency of tea consumption, demographic characteristics, exposure to radiation and occupational hazards, medications, using a validated questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with SPSS 11.5 software.

RESULTSCompared with non-tea-drinkers, the OR of those who consumed green tea was 0.58 (95% CI:0.34-1.00, P< 0.05) under univariate statistical analysis. The OR was 0.52 ( 95% CI: 0.28- 0.98, P = 0.04), using logistic regression to count for age, gender, residential area, smoking, level of education, exposure to radiation, benzene and organo-phosphorus. Compared with non-drinkers, the risk of adult leukemia declined with increasing quantity, duration, and frequency of green tea consumption. Tests for trend on dose-response was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONA higher consumption of green tea seemed to be associated with a declined risk of adult leukemia. Tea consumption might be of help to human health planning projects.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tea

OBJECTIVETo investigate diagnostic values of the detection of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODSA total of 32 fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens of metastatic prostate carcinomas were retrieved from the pathology files at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The metastatic sites included the pelvic and remote lymph nodes, liver, bone, and thyroid gland. Immunohistochemical staining for PSA, PAP, synaptophysin, chromogranin A was performed. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion was evaluated on sections of cell blocks by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using ERG gene break-apart probes.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients was 67 years. Twenty-six patients had a previous history of prostatic adenocarcinoma, while 6 patients presented initially with metastasis. In 11 patients, the metastatic lesions showed characteristic features of small cell carcinoma (SCC) and were positive for synaptophysin (9/9), chromogranin A (7/8), but negative for prostatic specific antigen (7/7). FISH analysis demonstrated a rearrangement of ERG gene in 10 of 32 cases (31.3%), and the rearrangement was associated with deletion of the 5' ERG gene in 6 cases. In addition, the copy number of ERG rearrangement gene locus was increased in 8 cases. Among the 11 cases with SCC features, a rearrangement of ERG gene was present in 5 cases, of which a deletion of the 5' ERG gene and increased copy number were seen in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONSTMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion can be evaluated in FNA specimens of metastatic prostate cancer. Metastatic prostate cancers have a high prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion along with a frequent copy number increase of ERG gene. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion persists in metastatic prostate cancers and even in those with poorly differentiated SCC features. Therefore, an identification of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion may be used to establish the prostatic origin of metastasis.

Acid Phosphatase ; Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Fusion ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMany patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have complicated with hypertension and may be prescribed with antihypertension medications to control their blood pressure. But whether antihypertension medications can also decrease arterial stiffness or control the blood pressure increasing following obstructive events is not well described. This study aimed to investigate whether antihypertensive medications can ameliorate the changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure associated with OSA.

METHODSSixty-one OSAS patients [13 women, 48 men, mean age (53.4 +/- 12.3) years], 26 normotensive patients (N), 7 hypertensive patients on no antihypertension medications (H), and 28 hypertensive patients on various combination antihypertension therapy (HM), were prospectively diagnosed with standard nocturnal polysomnography. Beat-to-beat blood pressure was continuously recorded from the radial artery by applanation tonometry during baseline sleep. As a measure of arterial stiffness, arterial augmentation index (AAI) was calculated as the ratio of augmented systolic blood pressure (SBP) to pulse pressure and expressed as a percentage for the following conditions: awakening, the first 10 ("early apnea") and last 10 ("late apnea") cardiac cycles of obstructive events (apnea or hypopnea), and the first 15 cardiac cycles following event termination ("post apnea") for all events with nadir O2 saturation

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure (SBP) post-apnea [(142.74 +/- 13.06) mmHg (N), (137.06 +/- 26.56) mmHg (H), (136.94 +/- 14.1) mmHg (HM)] was significantly increased from awakening [(135.76 +/- 14.76) mmHg (N), (135.58 +/- 23.17) mmHg (H), (129.77 +/- 14.00) mmHg (HM)], early apnea [(130.53 +/- 12.65) mmHg (N), (124.47 +/- 24.97) mmHg (H), (126.04 +/- 13.12) mmHg (HM)], and late apnea [(129.8 +/- 12.68) mmHg (N), (124.78 +/- 25.15) mmHg (H), (124.48 +/- 13.82) mmHg (HM)] respectively (P < 0.001, repeated measures ANOVA). AAI was significantly increased for the N group (P < 0.001) from awakening to late apnea [(10.45 +/- 2.62)% vs (14.43 +/- 3.21)%] and from early apnea to late apnea [(10.61 +/- 2.34)% vs (14.43 +/- 3.21)%], and also for H group (P < 0.05) from awakening to late apnea [(11.23 +/- 3.87)% vs (16.32 +/- 8.02)%] and from early apnea to late apnea [(11.75 +/- 3.79)% vs (16.32 +/- 8.02)%]. Meanwhile, no significant differences in AAI among awakening, early apnea, late apnea, and post-apnea conditions were found in HM group.

CONCLUSIONSThe current data demonstrate that systemic blood pressure increases significantly during the post-apneic phase of OSAS, compared with that during awakening and intra-apnea phases even with the use of combined antihypertensive therapy which could normalize BP during awakening in the hypertensive patients. However, increases in arterial stiffness during obstructive events could be ameliorated by combined antihypertension medications.

Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Regression Analysis ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

·AIM: To evaluate the effects of two series of enantiomers [(R, R)-XY-1 through (R, R)-XY-12 and (S,S)-XY-1 through (S, S)-XY-12] on ocular blood flow in rabbits.·METHODS; Colored microsphere technique was used for in vivo experiments to determine the ocular blood flow in various tissues of ocular hypertensive (40mmHg) rabbit eyes.·RESULTS; Of the twelve compounds of ( R, R)-XY series examined, four increased choroidal blood flow at 10g/L, 50uL instilled into eyes. All compounds of (S, S)-XY series were not effective on ocular blood flow.·CONCLUSION; Some compounds of (R, R)-XY series increased the ocular blood flow, which might be useful for the prevention and treatment of ocular blood flow related eye diseases. Among all twenty-four compounds, (R, R)-XY-1and (R, R)-XY-9 seem to be the most potent ones.KEYWORDS; ocular blood flow; ischemia; enantiomer

AIM: The effects of ZX-5, as nitric oxide (NO) donor, on ocular blood flow has been investigated using colored microsphere technique in previous study. The relationship between the production of NO by ZX-5 and ocular blood flow has been evaluated. ZX-5 has been shown to have strong positive effect on increasing choroidal blood flow. However,the effect of ZX-5 on retinal function recovery, the effects of its optical isomers, (R, R)-ZX-5 and (S, S)-ZX-5, on choroidal blood flow and retinal function recovery have not been studied and merit investigation.METHODS: Colored microsphere technique was used for in vivo experiments to determine choroidal blood flow of ocular hypertension (40mmHg) in rabbit eyes. Electroretinography was used to measure the b-wave recovery as an indication of retinal function recovery.RESULTS: (R, R)-ZX-5 increased choroidal blood flow at 10g/L, 50μL instillation into eyes at all time points (P＜0.05).(S, S)-ZX-5 was not effective in increasing choroidal blood flow. ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 showed significant effects in retinal function recovery after ischemia of the retina at all time points (P＜0.05); whereas (S, S)-ZX-5 did not show significant effect on recovery of b-wave after ischemia at most time points except at 120 and 240 minutes.CONCLUSION: ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 have high potency in increasing the choroidal blood flow and improving the retinal function recovery. It is hoped that they could be used for the prevention/treatment of ocular blood flow related eye diseases.