Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of diabetes mellitus. As a potent antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid is able to clear free radicals and alleviate oxidative damages and therefore has been widely applied in the clinical management of diabetes mellitus. This article summarizes the clinical application of alpha-lipoic acid in alleviating diabetes mellitus-related oxidative damages, protecting vascular lesions, treating diabetic polyneuropathies, and modulating insulin sensitivity.

Calcium, as a crucial signal molecule, plays an important role in the development process of immune cells and their functions. After T cell receptors or B cell receptors are stimulated or co-stimulated, the signaling pathways lead to Ca2+ influx and induce the increase of Ca2+ level in cells. Ca2+ signals have different short-time and long- term functions on T and B lymphocytes. Many immune deficiency disorders are resulted from the decrease of Ca2+ influx. This article reviewed the effects of calcium on the functions of T and B lymphocytes and its relationship with some immune deficiency disorders.

AIM To develop a simple reasonable and provable model of hypophysis shut off in rats with dexamethasone. METHODS Dexamethasone 6 mg?kg -1 was injected subcutaneously into two groups of rats at 3:00～3:30 pm on the preceding day. This dose was repeated at 9:00～9:30 am next day. The control group was treated with saline in the same way. One hour later, one of the dexamethasone treated groups was ig with Z47 200 mg?kg -1 , the other dexamethasone treated group and the control group was ig with 0 5% CMC. Then all the groups were ip with 0 086 mol?L -1 HAc in order to generate stress reaction. The reduction of the content of Vit C in adrenal gland was taken as the index of secretion of ACTH. RESULTS The content of Vit C in NS CMC HAc was obviously lower than in Dex CMC HAc group. There were statistically significant differences ( P

Objective To evaluate the prophylactic effect of pancreatic duct stent (PPDS),NonSteroid Anti-Inflammtory Drugs (NSAIDs),and joint PPDS and NSAIDs on post endoscopic rectrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) Pancreatitis(PEP) in choledocholithiasis patients.Methods A total of 200 choledocholithiasis patients were randomly divided into 4 groups,prophylactic pancreatic duct stent(PPDS) group (A),NSAIDs group (B),joint PPDS-NSAIDs group (C) and routine ERCP without prevention for PEP(group D).VAS score,levels of amylase in serum and CRP were measured before and 4 h,24 h,48 h after ERCP.Incidences of hyperamylasemia and PEP were observed.Results (1) Incidences of hyperamylasemia 48 h after ERCP were 6％ (3/50),6％ (3/50) and 4％ (2/50) in group A,group B and group C respectively,which were significantly lower than that of group D (11/55) (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Incidences of PEP 48 h after ERCP were both 2％ (1/50) in group A and group C,which were lower than that in group D (10％,5/50,P ＜ 0.05).Group B (4％,2/50) was lower than that of group D but there was no statistical significance(P ＞0.05).(3) VAS scores of all groups at 4 h,24 h and 48 h after the operation were significantly higher than before (P ＜ 0.05).Group B score was significantly lower than that of group D (P ＜ 0.05).Scores of group A and C at 4 h were lower than those of group D (P ＜ 0.05),and those at 24 h and 48 h were also lower but with no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05).(4) Serum CRP levels at 4 h,24 h and 48 h were significantly higher than those before in each group.Serum CRP levels of group B and C were significantly lower than that of group D at 4 h,24 h and 48 h.Serum CRP level of group A was significantly lower than group D at 4 h,24 h.CRP level at 48 h of group A was lower than that of group D,but there was no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Both prophylactic pancreatic duct stent and NSAIDs (Parecoxib Sodium) can reduce incidence of hyperamylasemia after ERCP common bile duct lithotomy.Single or joint use of prophylactic pancreatic duct stent can prevent PEP.Furthermore,prophylactic pancreatic duct stent and NSAIDs (Parecoxib Sodium) can reduce pain and inflammation after ERCP common bile duct lithotomy.NSAIDs only (Parecoxib Sodium) is more effective than prophylactic pancreatic duct stent only and joint use of both.

Objective To study the effect of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP)inhibitor 5-AIQ on the adhesion,migration and invasion of mouse colon adenocarcinoma cell line(CT26).Methods The expression of PARP after 5-AIQ treatment was detected Western blot.The cell adhesion,migration and invasion of CT26 after 5-AIQ treatment were observed by cell-matrix adhesion assay,cell migration assay and matrigel invasion assay.Results The expression of PARP in 5-AIQ-treated CT26 was weaker than that in 5-AIQ-untreated cells(P

Objective To compare the efficacy, tolerance and cost of interferon (IFN) α-2b and adefovir (ADV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) for two years. Methods The treatmentnaive outpatients with CHB were treated with IFN α-2b or ADV according to intention to treat.Among 77 patients, 34 were treated with recombinant IFN α-2b 5 MU once every other day subcutaneously (IFN group), 43 were treated with ADV 10 mg/day orally (ADV group). The medications were stopped or the regimens were changed due to intolerant adverse reactions or without effects according to intention to treat. The patients were followed up for 24 months. The therapeutic effects, adverse reactions, compliance and cost of two initial treatments were compared. The data were analyzed by Fisher exact probability test. Results The complete virological response (HBV DNA＜500 copy/mL) rates after 12 months of therapy in IFN group and ADV group were 41.2% (14/34)and 67. 4 % (29/43), respectively, while the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rates were41.2% (14/34) and 93. 0% (40/43), respectively. The rates in ADV group were both significantly greater than those in IFN group (both P＜0.01). There were no statistically significant differences of HBeAg negative rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate between the two groups. In IFN group, the expulsion rate was 23. 5% (8/34), the therapy was discontinued in 8. 8% (3/34) of patients due to adverse reactions and the medication was changed in 47.1% (16/34) of patients. In ADV group, there were no adverse reactions associated with medication during 2-year therapy and patients were well tolerant, the expulsion rate was 7.0% (3/43) and the regimen in 9.3% (4/43) of patients was changed (P＜0.01). The comparison of therapeutic cost between the two groups showed that the cost of anti-viral therapy, management with adverse reactions and laboratory examinations in IFN group were all higher than those in ADV group. The average cost per person of two years was increased with RMB 4855 yuan in IFN group. Conclusion In HBeAg-positive CHB patients, ADV is cost-effective and suitable choice for initial antiviral treatment.

BACKGROUND: The meniscal allograft transplantation has been proved good outcome in clinical, however, the source and matching restrict its application. By means of a patent technique of separating antigen, a new biological meniscus can be obtained.OBJECTIVE: To observe the histological changes of transplanted biological meniscus in goat's knee joint, in addition, to investigate the feasibility of reconstituting meniscus by using biological meniscus. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The animal experiment of goats was performed at the Central Laboratory in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between June 2005 and June 2006.MATEAIALS: A total of 15 healthy goats were used in the experiment. Fresh porcine meniscus was harvested for the preparing of biological meniscus.METHODS: The medial meniscus of goat was excised, and then the absent part was repaired using biological meniscus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The animals were sacrificed at months 1, 3, 6 and 12 after operation. And the samples were detected by histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Indian ink perfusion. RESULTS: The incision of all animals healed well, without infection or death. The transplanted meniscus healed well with the surrounding tissue, and the connection was tight. With time prolonged, the transplanted meniscus slowly soaked, and live cells existed inside the meniscus, but there were no live cells in about 1/4 district at 1 year after the surgery. Indian ink perfusion showed that the surrounding tissue grew inside and set up microcirculation, but only limited to 10% periphery of the meniscus (normal goat approximately 15%). The transplanted meniscus began the necrosis at 6 months after surgery. Under SEM, the surface of the meniscus became crude and cracked in some places, but still maintains the gross shape at 1 year after the surgery.CONCLUSION: There is no obvious rejection after the biological meniscus was transplanted into knee joint of goats. During the process of absorption, autologous tissue of goats can grow into and set up microcirculation in the transplanted meniscus. The transplanted meniscus protects the'knee cartilage notably, only slightly damage in cartilage can be observed.

Objective To evaluate the role of lutein in preventing and slowing down age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Literatures concerning lutein and AMD were collected by computerized search, manual search, expert consultations. The quality of included studies was evaluated. RevMan software 4.2was used for meta-analysis. Results Totally 9 studies were included, with a total OR of 0. 81 (range: 0. 71-0.92). Conclusion Lutein can, to some extent, prevent or slow down AMD.

BACKGROUND:Percutaneous vertebroplasty technique has become an effective means for clinical treatment of spinal osteoporotic fractures, but there is the risk of bone cement leakage.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty with low-dose bone cement for acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
METHODS:From September 2008 to February 2011, 32 patients with osteoporotic compression fractures were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty. According to the dose of bone cement, the patients were divided into low dose group (2-4 mL) and routine dose group (4-6 mL). In addition, another patients who were hospitalized over the same period for acute osteoporotic compression and could not receive vertebroplasty due to urgical contraindication served as control group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The pain relief and vertebral height restoration rate of the low dose group and routine dose group were significantly better than the control group (P<0.05). The bone cement leakage rate and last fol ow-up incidence of adjacent segment vertebral fractures of the low dose group were also significantly lower than those in the routine dose group (P<0.05). Vertebroplasty with modified low dose bone cement can achieve satisfactory clinical effects, and effectively reduce the leakage of bone cement and incidence of adjacent segment secondary fractures.