AlM:To evaluate the clinical application of the domestic rebound tonometer ( RBT ) in measuring intraocular pressure ( lOP) in healthy children.
METHODS:lOP measurement was measured in bilateral eyes of 108 cases with domestic RBT. Then the lOP for the left eyes of the children older than 13 years was obtained with Goldmann applanation tonometry ( GAT) .
RESULTS: Of the 108 children, 100 ( 92. 6%) had lOP measurement both eyes successfully. Of the 100 children, 24 were older than 13 years. The mean lOP values for the left eyes of the 24 children of RBT and GAT were (16. 0± 3. 0) mmHg (1kPa=7. 5mmHg) and (15. 7±2. 8) mmHg, respectively. There was no significant difference between the lOP of the two tonometers (P>0. 05). The lOP of RBT had a good liner relationship with that of GAT ( r=0. 849, P<0. 05). The lOP values were normally distributed for the both eyes. Mean lOP values were (16. 0±2. 8) mmHg and (16. 2 ± 2. 6 ) mmHg for the left eyes and right eyes, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mean lOP readings between them, which had a good liner relationship (r=0. 863, P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: Domestic RBT is a good instrument in detecting lOP in children and it seems to be very comfortable and easy when performing lOP measurement in children without an anesthetic.

Objectives: To reveal the possible role and mechanism of disc-facet angle in the occurrence and progress of Hirayama disease by analyzing the correlation of clinical appearance and the variation of disc-facet angle in Hirayama disease. Methods: 45 patients with Hirayama disease treated in the orthopedic de-partment of Peking University Third Hospital from October 2006 to January 2012 were reviewed. There were 44 males(97.8%) and 1 female(2.2%) with an average age of 19.33±3.89(range 13-37) years old. The onset age was 16.33±2.73 (range 10-27) years old and the duration of history was 35.64±23.24 (range 1 to 120) months. The disc-facet angle of C3-T1 was measured on PACS system. An extension line was made along the upper edge of objective vertebral body on the CT scan sagittal reconstruction image. An extension line was made along the joint surface of upper articular process of objective vertebra on the sagittal plane which crossed the midpoint of the facets. The blunt angle between two lines was the disc-facet angle. The cases were divided into unilateral affect and bilateral affected group according to history, spinal cord function and spinal cord lesion level. The correlation of above data and the variation of disc-facet angle were analyzed. Results: The duration of history in unilateral affected patients was significantly shorter than that of bilateral affected patients (P<0.05). The duration of history in sequential onset patients was significantly shorter than that of simultaneous onset in bilateral affected patients (P<0.05). The JOA score 17 and Chinese score 40 in unilateral affected patients were higher than those of bilateral affected patients. The C3-C7 disc-facet angle of affected side was bigger than that of normal side in unilateral affected patients, and C5, C6 had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The spinal cord lesion level was mainly at C5 and C6 in unilateral affected group. The disc-facet angle had no difference on both sides in bilateral affected patients but the figures at C4 and C5 level were bigger than that of normal side in unilateral affected patients. The spinal cord lesion level was mainly at C4 and C5 in bilateral affected group. The stability of upper cervical spine segments was even worse in unilateral affected group and resulting in higher level of spinal cord lesion comparing with bi-lateral affected group. Conclusions: The disc-facet angle of C4, C5 is bigger in bilateral affected patients and may be correlated with higher level spinal cord lesion and more severe clinical symptoms. The C5, C6 disc-facet angle of affected side is significantly bigger than that of normal side in unilateral affected patients. This may be the key factor of spinal cord lesion mainly at C5 and C6 level on the same side.

Objectives: To study the morphological difference of luscka joints between Hirayama disease patients and non-Hirayama disease patients on CT scan and to provide a new possible mechanism of Hirayama disease. Methods: 32 patients(all males) with a mean age of 19.4±4.1(range 16-37 years) and with Hirayama disease were treated in our hospital from October 2006 to January 2012, the mean course of disease was 31.7±23.7 months(range, 1-120 months). 32 patients(all males) with a mean of age was 19.1±4.3 (range, 12-26 years) suffering from acute neck pain and having no Hirayama disease were reviewed as control. Both groups showed no age related difference. From the cervical CT coronal plane reconstruction images which passing through the transverse foramen center of C3-C7 in GE-PACS system, the following data were measured in both sides: ①The width of the uncinate process base: the distance between inner and outer margin of the uncinate process at the upper edge of the vertebral body. ②The height of the uncinate process:the vertical distance from the top of the uncinate process to the upper edge of the vertebral body. ③The distance between two uncinate processes: the distance between the tips of the bilateral uncinate processes. ④The inclination angle of the uncinate process: the angle between the uncinate process and the upper edge of the vertebral body. ⑤The inclination angle of the inferior endplate: the angle between the uncinate process:the vertical distance from the top of the uncinate process to the upper edge of the vertebral body. Results:There were no significant side-related differences on the width of the uncinate process base, the height of the uncinate process, the distance of the uncinate process, the inclination angle of the uncinate process and the inclination angle of the inferior endplate at the same segment from C3 to C7 in Hirayama disease patients(P>0.05). However, differences were found on the height of the uncinate process and the distance between two uncinate processes of C3-C7 (P<0.05), C6 and C4 had the highest and lowest height of the uncinate process as C6>C5>C7>C3>C4. The distance of the uncinate process gradually increased from C3 to C7. There were no significant differences on the width of the uncinate process base, the inclination angle of the uncinate pro-cess and the inclination angle of inferior endplate(except for C3) of C3-C7(P>0.05). Then, using the mean value of the left and right sides as the width of the base of uncinate process, the height of uncinate process, and calculating the sum of inclination angle of the uncinate process, the sum of inclination angle of inferior endplate of the upper vertebra and the difference between the sums (the sum of inclination angle of uncinate process - the sum of inclination angle of inferior endplate of the upper vertebra), then calculating the mean value and standard deviation. Compared with the non-Hirayama disease patients, there were no significant dif-ferences on the uncinate process base, the distance of the uncinate process and the sum of inclination angle of the uncinate process at the same segment of Hirayama disease patients (P>0.05), while the height of the uncinate process and the sum of inclination angle of uncinate process of Hirayama disease patients were sig-nificantly smaller than those of the control group, respectively(P<0.05), and the differences between the sums were larger than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Hirayama disease patients may possess a dysplasia in the luscka joint, manifesting the nonuniform development of the uncinate indicators. Lower unci-nate process and smaller inclination angle of inferior endplate of the upper vertebra are common, The conse-quential cervical instability may play a significantly important role in the pathogenesis and progress of Hi-rayama disease.

Echinococcosis(hydatid disease)is a global zoonotic parasitic disease. At present,surgery remains the preferred treatment for this disease,but there are problems such as incomplete treatment and secondary infection. Therefore,adjuvant therapy of drugs is also essential. Albendazole is considered to be one of the most effective drug,but it has many side effects. In contrast,botani- cals have fewer side effects,low cost,and high availability in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Therefore,searching for herbs or plant extracts effectively treating echinococcosis has become an important topic. This paper summarizes the research progress in plant extracts and traditional Chinese materia medica in treatment of hydatid disease in vitro and in vivo,in order to provide reference for the treatment of echinococcosis by plant drugs.

Objective Getting the robust exogenous gene expression vector under the control of porcine insulin promoter, and to lay the foundation for pancreaticβ-cells specific transgene expressing pigs.Method Using porcine insu-lin promoter ( PIP, 1500 bp of the 5′UTR from the porcine INS gene including the first exon and the first intron) to con-struct expression vector, the HindIII restriction site which connected the sequences of PIP and EGFP was designed before ATG, named PIP-HindIII-EGFP.Considering that the different location of restriction site may affect the expression efficien-cy of the transgene, we optimized the expression vector.Firstly the HindIII restriction site was deleted to realize the seam-less connection of PIP and EGFP,the vector was named PIP-EGFP.Also we mutated the 3′intron splicing acceptor site( SA) of the first intron into HindIII restriction site, named as PIP-SA( M)-EGFP.Three different EGFP expression vectors were respectively transfected MIN-6 mouse pancreatic β-cells, pig ear fibroblasts and kidney cells.The transfected cells were cultured for 48 h and harvested for RT-PCR, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis, to analyze and compare the expres-sion efficiency of vectors.Results After transfection,green fluorescence was observed only in MIN-6 mouse pancreaticβ-cells.RT-PCR analysis and product sequencing showed that the three expression vectors did have different stability with in-tron splicing.The PIP-HindIII-EGFP construct and PIP-EGFP vector produced two kinds of mRNA with the first intron spliced and no spliced, indicating the instability of intron splicing.Mutation of the PIP splice site would cause the first in-tron not spliced, while flow cytometry and Western blot displayed that the mutation induced a most efficient expression of the downstream gene.Conclusions A robust and specific β-cells expression vector has been successfully generated by mutating the intron splicing acceptor site of the porcine insulin promoter.It provides the foundation for preparation of pigs with pancreaticβ-cells specifically expressing the transgene.

No Abstract Available.
Electrophysiology* ; Neuroendocrine Cells*

Female ; Glioma ; pathology ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Teratoma ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of actovegin against acute oral mucositis through a randomized controlled multicenter trial for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients treated by chemo-radiotherapy. Methods From February 2006 to May 2007,a total of 161 patients with newly diagnosed stage Ⅱ-ⅣA(1992 Fuzhou Stage) NPC were randomly assigned to the prevention group,the treatment group and the control group. All patients received current chemo-radiotherapy ± neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Radiation technique and dose were similar among the three groups. Intravenous infusion of aeovegin was started when radiation started in the prevention group and when grade 2 mueositis occurred in the treatment group,which was given 30 ml daily ,5 times per week until the end of radiotherapy. Criteria of NCI CTC 2.0 and VRS were used to evaluate acute oral mueositis and pain degree,respectively. Results 154 patients were eligible for the efficacy analysis,including 49 in the prevention group,53 in the treatment group and 52 in the control group. In the prevention group and the control group, the incidence was 31% and 56% (P=0.011) for grade 3-4 mucositis,59% and 83% (P=0.009) for grade 2-3 pain. In the treatment group and the control group,the corresponding number was 38% and 60% (P=0.023) ,70% and 90%, (P=0.014). The prevention group had a lower incidence(P=0.021) and longer average interval(P=0.009) of grade 2 mucositis when comparing with the control group. No drug-related adverse event was observed. Conclusions Prophylactic or therapeutic use of actovegin by intravenous infusion can significantly reduce the severity of ehemo-radiotherapy induced oral mucositis and pain. The prophylactic use may also postpone and decrease the incidence of grade 2 mucositis,which deserves clinic application.

BACKGROUND:It is reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)transplantation might be a promising treatment for liver fibrosis.But the mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis induced by BMSC transplantation,and to study the mechanism of BMSC in treating hepatic fibrosis in vivo.METHODS:CCl_4 subcutaneous injection was performed to induce rat liver fibrosis.After 8 weeks of CCU injection,20 rats which underwent successful model establishment were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,10 in each group.The experimental group received MSC transplantation via tail vein injection,and the control group were given DMEM instead.The rats were killed and the livers were harvested at three time point,the day of MSC transplantation,3 days after transplantation,and 7 days after transplantation.The hydroxyproline content was detected by HE and Masson staining,and the expression changes of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)proteins were determined using immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells were determined by α-SMA and TUNEL(terminal dUTP nick-end labeling)dual-staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 8 weeks of CCU injection,the hydroxyproline content increased and histology indicated progress of liver fibrosis.At 7 days after MSC transplantation,the hydroxyproline in the liver was decreased,and the liver fibrosis was alleviated in the experimental group but aggravated in the control group.Immunohistochemistry indicated that α-SMA positive cells were increased at 8 weeks after CCU injection.At day 7 after transplantation,α-SMA positive cells in the experimental group were significantly less than control group(P ＜ 0.05).At 3 days after transplantation,the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis in the experimental group was significantly aggravated compared with control group(P ＜ 0.05).This suggested that MSC transplant was an effective treatment for liver fibrosis.MSC inducing hepatic stellate cells apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is one of important cytokines to promote the maturation of dendritic cells. Blockage of TNF-α action by binding with soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) may arrest dendritic cells in an immature state and induce stable, long-term tolerance. OBJECTIVE: To construct the lentiviral vectors carrying sTNFR1 gene and investigate sTNFR1 expression in immature dendritic cells. METHODS: Total RNA of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was taken as a template. The sTNFR1 gene fragment was amplified by RT-PCR, subcloned to the lentiviral vectors pXZ208, and ligated to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene to establish lentiviral vector, called pXZ9-sTNFR1. DNA sequencing was performed for lentiviral vector identification. Lentivirus was prepared by transfection of 293 FT cells with pXZ9-sTNFR1. Viral titer was determined by eGFP expression. C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were in vitro cultured with low-dose granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors and interleukin 4. On day 5 of culture, immature dendritic cells were transfected with pXZ9-sTNFR1 recombinant lentiviral supernatant, sTNFR1 transcription was detected by RT-PCR, sTNFR1 protein expression by Western blot analysis. Following sTNFR1 gene modification and lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the phenotype characteristics of dendritic cells were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Recombinant plasmid pXZ9-sTNFR1 was successfully constructed. Twenty-four hours after 293 FT cell transfection, eGFP expression was observed and viral titer was over 10<'6> U/L. RT-PCR demonstrated that pXZ9-sTNFRl-transfected immature dendritic cells showed sTNFR1 positive expression. Western blot analysis revealed that sTNFR1 protein appeared in the immature dendritic cells and supernatant following 293 FT cell transfection. On day 5 of culture, dendritic cells expressed low level of class Ⅱ major histocompatibility complex (MHC Ⅱ), as well as CD40, CD86, CD80, molecules. However, following lipopolysaccharide stimulation, dendritic cells expressed high level of MHC Ⅱ, as well as CD40, CD80, and CD86, molecules, exhibiting the phenotype characteristics of mature dendritic cells. But after sTNFR modification, the expression level of MHC Ⅱ, as well as CD40, CD80, and CD86, molecules was not altered obviously. Lentiviral vectors carrying sTNFR1 gene and eGFP reporter gene were successfully constructed, and recombinant lentiviral plasmids with high titer were acquired. Following high efficacy of lentiviral gene transfection, immature dendritic cells stably express sTNFR1 mRNA and protein, which prevents immature dendritic cells from activation by exogenous lipopolysaccharide and maintains the immature state.