Background Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD),therefore VEGF is a target for the treatment of wet AMD.However,the mechanism of VEGF in the pathogenesis of AMD is not clearly understood.Studying the correlation between VEGF gene polymorphism and AMD is becoming a new research hotspot,but relevant studies on Han Chinese have not been performed.Objective This study was to investigate the association between the VEGF +936C/T gene polymorphism and AMD in the Chinese population.Methods A pilot prospective and nonrandomized controlled trial was designed.This protocol complied with Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethic Committee of Chinese PLA Second Artillery General Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the study.Two hundred AMD patients and 200 age-and gender-matched normal controls were enrolled in this study.The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the subjects,and analysis of the VEGF polymorphisms at the +936 position in the promoter and 3＇-untranslated regions was performed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.Frequencies of the VEGF+936C/T genotype were compared between the two groups,and the risk of the VEGF+936C/T gene polymorphism in pre-disposing AMD was evaluated.Results No significant differences were seen in the incidence rates of smoking(P ＝ 0.76),hypertension(P ＝ 0.84),hyperlipidemia (P=0.71),diabetes mellitus (P=0.86) and cardiovascular disease(P=0.89) between the AMD group and the normal control group,and BMI was matched between the two groups (P =0.18).The prevalence of the TT genotype was 9.0％ (18/200)in the AMD group,but that in the normal control was 3.5％ (7/200),showing a significant difference between the two groups (P =0.03).The odds ratio (OR) was 2.73 with a 95％ confidence interval(CI) of 1.11 to 6.68 for AMD in this genotype.The CC and CT genotypes were not significantly different between the two groups (P =0.52,P =0.57).The genotype frequency and allele frequency conformed to HardyWeinberg equilibrium law.There were no significant differences found in the CC,CT,TT genotype frequencies among the early AMD,geographic atrophy AMD and choroidal neovascular AMD (all at P＞0.05).Conclusions The VEGF+936TT genotype is associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

In order to obtain higher L-lactic acid yield industrial strain, the original strain Rhizopus oryzae PW352 was mutated by means of N+ ions implantation and a mutant strain Rhizopus oryzae RE3303 was obtained. Its lactic acid yield was increased by 75% than that of the original one. The acid producing condition was optimized by orthogonal design. The concentration of L-lactic acid reached to 131～136g/L and the conversion rate of glucose was as high as 86%～90% under the optimum condition.

AIM:To investigate the effects and mechanism of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) assisted pars plana vitrectomy ( PPV) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR) . ·METHODS: A total of 92 patients ( 92 eyes ) with PDR treated by PPV were divided into the simple PPV group (41 patients with 41 affected eyes) and the combined treatment group ( 51 patients with 51 affected eyes ) according to whether the patient underwent intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab ( IVR) . The combined treatment group was treated with IVR at 5-7d before PPV. The surgical time, times of electrocoagulation, silicone oil filling rate, the incidence of postoperative complications, LogMAR BCVA of affected eyes, levels of VEGF and pigment epithelium derived factor ( PEDF ) in aqueous humor and vitreous body were compared between the two groups. ·RESULTS:The surgical time was shorter, the times of electrocoagulation was less, the silicone oil filling rate and the incidence rates of iatrogenic retinal hole and vitreous body hematocele were lower in the combined treatment group than in the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). Levels of VEGF and PEDF in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the combined treatment group during PPV were lower than those in the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). The LogMAR BCVA of the affected eyes of the combined treatment group in 3mo after surgery was better than that of the simple PPV group (P<0. 05). ·CONCLUSION:IVR combined with PPV can reduce the perioperative levels of VEGF and PEDF, reduce the times of electrocoagulation and the incidence of iatrogenic retinal hole and vitreous body hematocele, and improve the visual acuity of patients with PDR.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application in treating post-stroke shoulder pain. Method Two hundred patients with post-stroke shoulder pain were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 100 cases each. The two groups both received rehabilitation training for shoulder joint. In addition, the treatment group was given warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application, while the control group was given warm needling. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, upper-limb Fugl-Mayer Assessment (FMA) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were adopted to evaluate the two groups before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared. Result The total effective rate was 100.0％ in the treatment group versus 87.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The VAS, FMA and MBI scores were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS, FMA and MBI scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application and rehabilitation training can obviously reduce post-stroke shoulder pain, and enhance the upper-limb motor function and activities of daily living.

Objective To study the relationship of clinical manifestation and pathological changes and prognosis in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)in children.Methods Clinical and pathological characteristics of 42 children with HSPN were analysed.Among them,40 children were detected of angiotensin-convertion enzyme(ACE)gene and had been followed up.Results Among them,there were 9 cases of level Ⅰof pathological types,21 cases of level Ⅱ,12 cases of level Ⅲ,but no cases of level Ⅳ.Ⅰand Ⅱ level were found in those cases of clinical manifestation with solitary hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological grades were Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ levels in the cases of hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological types of nephrotic syndrome(NS)were Ⅱ and Ⅲ level,which were of more gross hematuria than those of other grades.ACE gene DD had serious pathological damnification.Conclusions Change of pathology cannot only be anticipated by clinical manifestation of HSPN.But if pathological damnification gets more serious,the albuminuria gets more serious.Gross hematuria and albuminuria can serve as indicators of biopsy.NS of ACE DD type have serious pathological damnification.Children with HSPN has favourable prognosis in the future.

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and peripheral blood eosinophils (EOS) as well as the correlation between the two markers in children with bronchial asthma (AS),AS complicated by allergic rhinitis (AS/AR) and chronic cough variant asthma (CVA), in order to explore the value of eNOS detection in children with AS.

METHODSThe eNO level was measured using light-emitting electrochemical photometry in 12 children with AS, 29 children with AS/AR and 10 children with CVA. Peripheral blood EOS was counted by blood cell counter (Coulter JT). Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was assessed by lung function measurement. Thirty children without atopic disease and acute respiratory infection as well as without a family history of atopic diseasea served as the control group.

RESULTSThe levels of eNO and blood EOS in the AS, the AS/AR and the CVA groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). The AS/AR group showed increased levels of eNO (50.3 + or - 6.7 ppb) and EOS (5.9 + or -4.2 x 109 ) compared with the AS (30.5 + or - 8.8 ppb and 4.2 + or - 3.2 x 109 respectively) and the CVA groups (26.0 + or - 3.2 ppb and 3.7 + or - 6.9 x 109 respectively) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in eNO and EOS levels between the AS and the CVA groups. The eNO level was positively correlated with the EOS level (r=0.51, p<0.05), but not with FEV1 (r=0.144, p>0.05) in the AS group.

CONCLUSIONSNO is highly expressed in children with symptoms of atopy and can reflect the levels of eosinophilic airway inflammation in children with AS.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Objective To study the effects of ubenimex on immunocyte functions of mice.Methods Antitumor activity of ubenimex was observed in implanted H22 mice.The killing activity of NK cells to target cell YAC-1, phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophage and the secretion of mac -rophage NO effect were carried out with CCK method , neutral red colori-metric method and Griess method , respectively.Lymphocyte proliferation test was done by stimulating methods in vitro and in vivo.Tumor associated macrophages(TAMs)and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in pe-ripheral blood and T lymphocytes , B lymphocytes and NK cell in spleen were determined by flow cytometry method.Results The 20 mg· kg-1 of ubenimex could depress the growth of H 22 and its tumor inhibitory rate was 41.71%.The killing activity of NK cells was increased by 56.5%.The 10μg· mL-1 of ubenimex significantly enhanced secretion of macrophage NO effect (P<0.01) and it also enhanced phagocytosis of peritoneal mac-rophage (P<0.05) at concentration of 100μg· mL-1.Besides the lym-phocyte proliferation was also strengthened (P<0.05).The number of T lymphocytes and CD 8+T cell in spleen was increased obviously ( P<0.01 or P<0.05).Ubenimex could adjust the number of TAMs and MDSCs in peripheral blood to normal level.Conclusion Ubenimex has antitumor growth activity through enhances non -specific immunity and specific immunity and suppresses the tumor associated cell.

OBJECTIVETo look into the serological characteristics of a hepatitis E outbreak.

METHODSSera from the first five patients with acute icteric hepatitis who developed the disease successively within ten days and the 1,675 employees routinely having their lunch in a dining hall of a department (outbreak population) were examined for anti.HEV IgM and IgG at 26th days after the outbreak, and the 883 employees of a neighboring department not having their lunch in the hall were selected as control (control population).

RESULTSThe five patients were all positive for anti-HEV IgM and IgG. The positive rates of anti-HEV IgM and IgG in outbreak population were 8.7% and 38.4% respectively, both significantly higher than those in control population which were only 0.1% and 28.6%. The numbers with abnormal ALT in the 145 individuals with anti-HEV IgM(+) of outbreak population were significantly higher than those in the IgM(-) individuals of the same group as well as in control, while the abnormal ALT ratio in the IgM(-) individuals of the outbreak was not higher than that in control. The results from the four patients' serial sera showed that the anti-HEV IgM titers declined gradually and were undetectable at about 4th month after infection, and the IgG titers increased to peak in about 2-3 months after infection, then declined very slowly. The mean IgG titer of the anti-HEV IgM(+) individuals was significantly higher than that of the IgM(-) but IgG(+) individuals in outbreak population, and the latter was significantly higher than the IgG(+) individuals in control, which suggested that the post-infection individuals' immunities to HEV were boosted during the outbreak. There was no difference between sex or age groups for the anti-HEV IgM(+) ratio, but the abnormal ALT was much more frequent in the anti-HEV IgM(+) male than in the female, and no difference was observed between age groups.

CONCLUSIONThe pathogen of the outbreak of acute icteric hepatitis was hepatitis E virus and associated with food intake. Anti-HEV IgM and IgG were used not only for diagnosis of hepatitis E but also for surveilance in mass population. The attack risk was not associated with age or sex, but the abnormal ALT was much more frequent fresh infectors in male.

Adult ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis E virus ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo discuss the proper surgical management of pancreatic benign and low-grade malignant potential neoplasm.

METHODSThe experience of 72 cases who accepted organ preserving pancreatectomy from January 1990 to May 2010 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 male and 48 female, aged from 15 to 68 years with mean age of 46 years. There were 9 cases underwent duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas, 29 cases underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy, 11 cases underwent middle segmental pancreatectomy, 23 cases underwent tumor extirpation of huge pancreatic cancer in pancreatic head and body.

RESULTSPancreatic fistula and biliary fistula in 1 case respectively were cured among who accepted duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas. Pancreatic fistula was found in 3 cases who accepted spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. Pancreaticobiliary anastomotic bleeding in 1 case was cured among who accepted middle segmental pancreatectomy. Pancreatic fistula was found in 5 cases among who accepted tumor extirpation of huge pancreatic cancer in pancreatic head and body, and liver metastasis was found in 3 cases at 6, 12, 16 months after surgery respectively.

CONCLUSIONSOrgan preserving pancreatectomy can obviously reduce operative injury to patients, its therapeutic effect is similar to that of classical operation, it is the first option of benign and low-grade malignant potential neoplasm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore a more effective therapy for retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.

METHODSEighty-four cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 46 cases and a control group of 38 cases. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35), and the control group with electroacupuncture at acupoints routinely selected.

RESULTSThe total effective rate and the cured rate were 82.6% and 43.5% in the treatment group and 63.2% and 23.7% in the control group respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Baliao and Huiyang (BL 35) has obvious therapeutic effect on retention of urine induced by spinal cord injury.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Urinary Retention ; therapy