AIM: To discuss the effect of wearing customized curvature soft corneal contact lens to dry eye degree of flight attendants.
METHODS:Eighty cases (160 eyes) of flight attendants from China Southern were divided into two groups:control group 40 cases ( 80 eyes ) wearing ready-made Bausch soft corneal contact lens ( curvature 8. 4 ); the experiment group 40 cases ( 80 eyes ) , wearing Bausch soft corneal contact lens with customized curvature. Tear break-up time ( BUT ) , Schirmer Ⅰ test ( SⅠt ) and fluorescein ( FL ) staining were as dry eye evaluation index. The results was statistically analyzed.
RESULTS: BUT, SⅠt average shortening value of the experimental group were less than that of the control group, there was statistical significance (P<0. 01). FL staining positive increase, the number of experimental group was fewer than that of control group, with statistical significance (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Wearing customized curvature soft corneal contact lens can prevent the flight dry eye more effectively than fixed curvature product.

OBJECTIVEto investigate the changes of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) in the cerebral cortex following acute bromoxynil intoxication in mice and the protective effect of sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (Na-DMPS).

METHODS30 ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control group (10), exposure group (10) and Na-DMPS protection group (10). The levels of GABA and Glu in the cerebral cortex were measured by RP-HPLC. The glutamine (Gln) level and the glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate decarboxylation enzyme (GAD), γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activity in the cerebral cortex were determined by UV colorimetric.

RESULTScompared with the control group [GABA: (3.41 ± 0.12) micromol/g, Glu (14.00 ± 0.16) micromol/g, Gln (1.25 ± 0.19) micromol/g, GAD (13.50 ± 0.25) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GABA-T (25.51 ± 0.21) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GS(142.19 ± 1.31) U/mg pro], the level of GABA [(3.14 ± 0.14) micromol/g] was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the level of Glu [(17.54 ± 0.40) micromol/g] and Gln [(3.35 ± 0.27) micromol/g] were increased (P < 0.05), the activity of GAD [(11.93 ± 0.15 micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GABA-T [(24.15 ± 0.22) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GS [(140.75 ± 1.01) U/mg pro] was decreased (P < 0.05) in acute intoxication group; Compared with the acute intoxication group, the level of GABA [(3.52 ± 0.30) micromol/g] was increased (P < 0.05), whereas the level of Glu [(14.20 ± 0.32) micromol/g] and Gln [(1.32 ± 0.17) micromol/g] were decreased (P < 0.05), the activity of GAD [(13.01 ± 0.45 micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GABA-T [(25.19 ± 0.26) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GS [(142.35 ± 1.20) U/mg pro] was increased (P < 0.05); In contrast, the levels of GABA, Glu, Gln and the activity of GAD, GABA-T, and GS in Na-DMPS protection group were not significantly different in comparison with control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONthe central toxic effects of mice with acute bromoxynil intoxication may be related to the changes of GABA and Glu content in the cerebral cortex;Na-DMPS can protect mice from bromoxynil-induced central toxic effects and GABA and Glu abnormal change in the cerebral cortex.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitriles ; poisoning ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Unithiol ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Emerging data indicated that HCV subverts the antiviral activity of interferon (IF); however,whether HCV core protein contributes to the process remains controversial. In the present study, we examined the effect of HCV core protein on interferon-induced antiviral gene expression and whether the effect is involved in the activation and negative regulation of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway. Our results showed that, following treatment with IFN-α, the transcription of PKR, MxA and 2'-5'OAS were down-regulated in HepG2 cells expressing the core protein. In the presence of HCV core protein,ISRE-dependent luciferase activity also decreased. Further study indicated that the core protein could inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, whereas the level of STAT1 expression was unchanged.Accordingly, SOCS3, the negative regulator of the Jak/STAT pathway, was induced by HCV core protein. These results suggests that HCV core protein may interfere with the expression of some interferon-induced antiviral genes by inhibiting STAT1 phosphorylation and induction of SOCS3.

AIMUnderstanding the modes and activities of metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers with DNA.

METHODSThe modes and activities of the interaction of DNA and metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll, which have been prepared by extraction and synthesis reaction, have been discussed according to the ultraviolet-visual spectrum and nucleic acid electrophoresis.

RESULTSIt indicates that the system of DNA and metal complexes have enchanced the interaction by the ultraviolet-visual spectrum. At the same time, it also indicates that metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll and DNA have different combining way and have strong cutting effect in illumination by the nucleic acid electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONThis paper proved that metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers have great advantage.

Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Copper ; chemistry ; DNA ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Zinc ; chemistry

AIMTo find a new PDT sensitizer.

METHODSThere were four complexes (Cu, Zn, Co, Ni) synthesized through reaction of metal and deprivating-Mg bacteriochlorophyll in the organic solvent. Their antitumor action was detected by MTT.

RESULTSThe ultraviolet-visual spectrum and the fluorescence spectrum of these complexes showed that synthesis of these four complexes was succeeded. And these metal complexes have potent antitumor action on two kinds of leukaemic cells.

CONCLUSIONMetal bacteriochlorophylls as PDT sensitizers have very good properties and this is a way to develop new PDT sensitizers.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; chemistry ; Copper ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; cytology ; Metals, Heavy ; chemistry ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Photosensitizing Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH)on the cardiovascular system in anesthetized rats. Methods A totally of 72 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=24),namely the ormoxia control group(control group), the normoxia anesthesia group(model group)and the chronic intermittent hypoxia group(CIH group).Rats of the control group breathe nor-mally.The model group was given intraperitoneal injection of 10%hydration with 0.3 mL/kg,and the CIH group was given chronic intermit-tent hypoxic stimulation with 8 h/d in addtion to the model group.The difference of ultrasonic echocardiography data,blood pressure,endothe-lin type-1,and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)in rats of the three groups were compared.After 28 days,these rats were sacrificed to observe the changes of myocardial cell structure.Results In the control group,the myocardial morphology was normal,the cells arranged e-venly,and there was no swelling and inflammation.In the model group,the myocardial cells were evenly arranged without hypertrophy and in-flammatory changes.In the CIH group,the myocardial cells in the hypoxic group were not evenly arranged,and hypertrophy,swelling,deform-ation,hyperchromia,and obvious inflammatory changes of the myocardial tissue were observed.In the control group,myocardial cell nucleus and cytoplasm were uniformly arranged,and there was no obvious changes in the model group.On the contrary,myocardial cell morphology changed obviously in the CIH group,with the cell morphology and size of the inhomogeneity increased, and the color of the apoptosis cells changes from light to dark.The tail artery systolic pressure of rats in CIH group was significantly higher than that of the control group and the model group,and the LVEF of CIH group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups(P<0.05).Ultrasound detection value sug-gests that the LVID and left ventricular of rats in the CIH group were slightly larger,and the diastolic function was normal.The LVDs of the model group and the CIH group were both higher than that of the control group with statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The RBC, HCT,dp/dtmax,and -dp/dtmax in the CIH group were significantly higher than those of the control group and the model group(P<0.05). Serum levels of endothelin-1 in CIH group were significantly higher than that of control group and model group,while the summation of serum NO2-/NO3-and eNOS in CIH group were significantly lower than those of the control group and the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Chronic intermittent hypoxia can cause cardiac dysfunction in anesthetized rats,which may lead to the imbalance of serum endothelin-1 and NO levels,leading to endothelial dysfunction and myocardial injury.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on oxidative stress of hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

METHODSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, namely the normal control group (NG), the model group (MG), the G. lucidum polysaccharides groups of low, middle and high dose (GLPs-LG, GLPs-MG, GLPs-HG) and the Simvastatin group (SV). The rats were fed with high fat diet to establish the model of hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats. After administration for 12 weeks, rats in each group were tested with the following indexes: total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum as well as the contents of SOD, MDA, GSH-Px and T-AOC in hepatic tissues. Histopathological changes of hepatic tissues were observed under light glass.

RESULTSThe contents of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, both the GLPs-M group and the GLPs-H group showed significant decreases in TC, TG and LDL-C (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the GLPs-H group showed a notable increase in HDL-C (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, both the GLPs-M group and the GLPs-H group showed significant decreases in MDA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and notable increases in SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The GLPs-M group and the GLPs-H group proved a remarkable alleviation in fatty degeneration of hepatic cells.

CONCLUSIONG. lucidum polysaccharides can significantly reduce the blood fat level of hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats and effectively inhibit oxidant stress, showing the effect on preventing and treating hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats to some extent.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors and related degrees associated to obstetric brachial plexus palsy(OBPP).

METHODSA case-control study was performed. Neonatal records of thirty-one cases with OBPP and their corresponding maternal records from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of eight hospitals in Shanghai city from 1988 to 2002 were reviewed. Four controls, all living in Shanghai were selected to match each case and were born within the same year at the same hospital. The control group also included 124 cases without OBPP. According to the uniformed data and tables used were from medical records and from pregnant women. Epidemiological study was carried out on both case group and control group. Variables for analyses would include: (1) race, age, height, family history, pre-pregnancy weight, body mass index at the pre-pregnancy (weight/height2) on those pregnant women as well as on parity of their mothers; (2) the process of delivery which includeing clinic pelvis evaluation, height of uterus, abdomen circumference,antepartum weight,body mass index before delivery, mode of delivery,the duration of active phase and 2nd stage of labor, shoulder dystocia; (3) on neonates: sex, gestational age, birth weight,affected limb, Apgar scores of 1 and 5 minutes, other birth trauma and resuscitation of infant. Statistical tests applied to these data would include Student's T test for continuous variables and chi2 analysis for discrete data. Risk calculation of OBPP was performed by univariable and multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS12 factors related to expsure were identified for OBPP through univariable conditional logistic regression analysis. When multivariable conditional logistic regression model at P = 0.1 was applied, four factors such as cesarean (OR = 0.060), forceps (OR = 65.237), birth weight (OR = 35.468), and pre-pregnancy body mass index (OR = 23.901) were selected.

CONCLUSIONForceps delivery,macrosomia, and increase of pre-pregnancy body mass index (> or = 21) were risk factors of OBPP in the order of degrees to risk while cesarean seemed to serve as a protective factor.

Adult ; Brachial Plexus ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Paralysis, Obstetric ; epidemiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

Background and purpose:Ultrasound is a regular screening method of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP). This study was to summarize the diagnostic value of ultrasound to SPTP.Methods:Clinical and ultrasound data of 62 SPTP cases in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results:Five cases of SPTP were undetected by ultrasound in the group. The features of ultrasound including: large mass located at the body and tail of the pancreas, clear boundary and regular shape, low ultrasound with uneven signal, or low signal mixed with no signal. A few cases have calciifcation and blood signal. Most of the cases presented no dilation of main pancreatic duct and bile duct and regional lymph nodes enlargement. Conclusion:Ultrasound can be used to detect SPTP which has special ultrasound signal features.

0.05).In group Ⅱand Ⅲ,the carotid artery IMT was thicker and the amount of plagues were larger than those in group Ⅰ(P