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.

To set standards for histomorphological studies on Lysimachia fortunei, an efficacious and widely applied folk medicine in this study, in order to develop its resources. Its species were identified by observing plant morphology and herbs appearance characters, preparing slices with routine methods and defining structural characters. According to the results of morphologic observation, leaves, stamen and pistil of this plant were different from the descriptions in Flora of China. The whole herb can be used in medicines, mainly including rhizomes, stems and leaves. According to the findings in the first study on microscopic structures, its rhizomes, stems and leaves were characteristic and worth identifying. The transaction tissue structures of rhizomes and stems were under developed and contained endodermis, secretory structures; Stems had sclerenchymata of different shapes of sclereids; Leaves were bifacial and had vascular bundles under midribs, which were surrounded by parenchymal sheathes. On the surface of leaves, stomata, glandular hairs and keratin lines were morphologically different in upper and lower epidermis. The herbal power had glandular hairs, sclereids and vessels. In conclusion, herbs of L. fortunei can be identified by the above histomorphological characteristics, which lays a foundation for further development and application of L. fortunei.
Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Primulaceae ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo clarify the origin and provide pharmacognostical evidences for the leaves of 5 species in Chloranthus.

METHODHistological observation and microscopic identification through different slice-making techniques were applied to the research.

RESULTThere were subtle differences between the histological characteristics. In microscopical identification, the different structures of vascular bundles in veins were observed, appendages and non-glandular hairs were distinct.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be used to distinguish the features of 5 species in Chloranthus. This article offers information for the further research and exploitation of Chloranthus.

Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; Pharmacognosy ; Plant Epidermis ; anatomy & histology ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; Plant Vascular Bundle ; anatomy & histology ; Plants, Medicinal ; Species Specificity

Mytilin-derived-peptide-1 (MDP-1) and mytilin-derived-peptide-2 (MDP-2) are two truncated decapeptides with reversed sequence synthesized corresponding to the residues 20-29 of mytilin-1 (GenBank Accession No. FJ973154) from M. coruscus. The objective of this study is to characterize the structural basis of these two peptides for their antimicrobial activities and functional differences, and to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of MDPs on Escherichia coli and Sarcina lutea. The structures of MDP-1 and MDP-2 in solution were determined by 1H 2D NMR methods; the antibactericidal effects of MDPs on E. coli and S. lutea were observed by transmitted electron microscopy (TEM). Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 have a well-defined loop structure stabilized by two additional disulfide bridges, which resemble the-hairpin structure of mytilin-1 model. The surface profile of MDPs' structures was characterized by protruding charged residues surrounded by hydrophobic residues. TEM analysis showed that MDPs destroyed cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall of bacteria and the interface between the cell wall and membrane was blurred. Furthermore, some holes were observed in treated bacteria, which resulted in cell death. Structural comparison between MDP-1 and MDP-2 shows that the distribution of positively charged amino acids on the loop of MDPs is topologically different significantly, which might be the reason why MDP-2 has higher activity than MDP-1. Furthermore, TEM results suggested that the bactericidal mechanisms of MDPs against E. coli and S. lutea were similar. Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 could attach to the negatively charged bacterial wall by positively charged amino acid residues and destroy the bacteria membrane in a pore-forming manner, thus cause the contents of the cells to release and eventually cell death.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Wall ; drug effects ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Mytilus ; chemistry ; Sarcina ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the prognostic value of hematogones (HGs) for childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) during consolidation chemotherapy.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for 196 children with newly-diagnosed B-ALL. They were divided into high-risk group (n=55), intermediate-risk group (n=69), and low-risk group (n=72) by risk stratification, and into complete remission group (n=165) and relapse group (n=31) by clinical outcome. The European BIOMED-1 standard flow cytometry for minimal residual disease (MRD) was used to determine the number of HGs during consolidation chemotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to assess event-free survival (EFS).

RESULTSThe high-risk group had a significantly lower number of HGs than the intermediate-risk and low-risk groups (P<0.05). The number of HGs in the complete remission group was significantly higher than in the relapse group (P<0.05). The children with HGs ≤1.0% had a significantly lower EFS than those with HGs <1.0% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHGs can be used to assess the treatment outcome and prognosis in children with B-ALL, and proliferation of HGs reflects the good effect of chemotherapy in such children.

Adolescent ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; mortality ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective 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

Objective To design and manufacture a multifunctional cushion for venous thrombosis prevention of lower extremities, which can be also applied to the low extremities needing raising. Methods The cushion was made of anti-rust, low-weight, undeformable and easy-to-clean stainless material, which was composed of a pad and a massage apparatus. The pad had its height regulable from 16 to 30 cm and telescopic inclination from 30 to 70° to adapt the cushion to sizes of patients. There were 6 independent air chambers and tubular circulating pipes around the blanket wrapping the chambers so that extremity massage and temperature-controlled heating could be executed based on setting up pressure, time and temperature of the electromagnetic air and water pumps. Results The cushion simulated the functions of the muscle pump, which formed step-by-step-increasing pressure changes by driving the chambers to be inflated and discharged continuously to execute extremity massage, temperature-controlled heating etc. Conclusion The cushion gains advantages in flexible composition, patient comfort etc, solves the problems in fixing angle and height, constant time for pump inflation and discharge as well as temperature-controlled heating, and thus is worthy promoting clinically.

The study was aimed to investigate the expression of Rac1 in human acute leukemic cell line HL-60 and effect of Rac1 on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. The mRNA expression of Rac1 in HL-60 cell line and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. After transfection of HL-60 cells with different concentrations of Rac1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) by means of FuGENE6, the survival, cell cycle, apoptosis of HL-60 cells were observed through MTT assay, FCM test, Wright-Giemsa, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining test respectively. The results showed that Rac1 relative amount in HL-60 was 0.84 +/- 0.13, while it in the normal PBMNC was 0.26 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.01); the expression of Rac1 in HL-60 cells was significantly upregulated. Compared with sense oligodeoxynucleotide (SODN), HL-60 cell viability, after exposure to ASODN at a concentration of 2.0 g/L decreased, (73.7 +/- 5.0)% vs (93.2 +/- 3.0)% (P < 0.01), while the proportion of G(1) cells increased as (52.1 +/- 6.8)% vs (31.6 +/- 4.7)% (P < 0.05), the percentage of Annexin V positive cells increased, (19.2 +/- 2.1)% vs (4.1 +/- 1.7)% (P < 0.01), and HL-60 cells were observed to have formation of apoptotic bodies. The data presented indicate that Rac1 may be involved in regulation of HL-60 cell cycle and apoptosis, promote overproliferation of HL-60 cells and inhibit their apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; physiology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the water content of stratum corneum (WCSC), expression of serum inflammatory factors and aquaporin 3 (AQP₃) in skin, lung and rectum in guinea pigs with eczema of skin damp-heat accumulation, and to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for regulating skin barrier function. METHODS: A total of 24 male albino guinea pigs were randomly divided into a blank group (n=6) and a modeling group (n=18). The guinea pigs in the modeling group were induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to establish the eczema model of skin damp-heat accumulation. The guinea pigs with successful modeling were further randomly divided into a model group, a medication group and an acupuncture-moxibustion group, 6 guinea pigs in each group. The guinea pigs in the medication group were treated with loratadine tablets (0.8 mg/kg) by gavage, once a day for 7 days; the guinea pigs in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13), "Pishu" (BL 20), "Quchi" (LI 11), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Xuehai" (SP 10); at the same time, moxibustion was applied at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), moxibustion intervention for 10 min and needle retaining for 15 min at each acupoint, once a day for 7 days. The eczema area and severity index (EASI) score was evaluated before and After intervention, and WCSC and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured by skin tester. After intervention, The HE staining was used to observe the changes of skin histomorphology in each group; ELISA was used to measure the contents of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17; Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of AQP₃ in skin, lung and rectum. RESULTS: Before the intervention, compared with the blank group, the EASI scores and TEWL were increased in the remaining groups (P<0.01), and the WCSC was decreased (P<0.01). After the intervention, compared with the model group, the EASI scores and TEWL were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and WCSC was increased (P<0.01) in the medication group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group. The epidermal structure in the blank group was complete and the fibers in the dermis were arranged orderly; in the model group, epidermal hyperkeratosis, proliferation of granular layer, spinous cell layer and basal layer, and disordered arrangement of dermal fibers and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed. The morphological performance in the medication group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group was better than that in the model group. Compared with the blank group, the contents of serum IgE and IL-17 were increased (P<0.01), and the content of serum IL-4 and the protein expression of AQP₃ in skin, lung and rectum were decreased in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the contents of serum IgE and IL-17 were decreased and the contents of serum IL-4 were increased in the medication group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0.01), and the protein expression of AQP₃ in skin, lung and rectum in the acupuncture- moxibustion group were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the medication group, the contents of serum IgE and IL-17 were increased (P<0.01), and the content of serum IL-4 was decreased (P<0.01) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group. CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion could improve the epidermal water metabolism and skin tissue morphology in guinea pigs with eczema of skin damp-heat accumulation. Its mechanism may be related to regulating inflammatory factors, up-regulating the expression of AQP₃, and then repairing the skin barrier function.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Eczema/therapy* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-4 ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Water

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of 5-aminoimidazole-4-formamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) combined with interferon (IFN-α-2b) on the proliferation and apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells, and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibition of cell proliferation. Wright Giemsa method was used to stain and cell morphology was observed by light microscopy. FITC Annexin V/PI double staining method was used to analyze the change of apoptosis rate. Immunocytochemistry method was used to detect the expression of wild-type P53 protein. RESULTS: Different concentration of AICAR was inhibitory effect on K562 cells at different time point of action for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, and the inhibition was time and dose-dependent (r=0.71, r=0.84). The combination of AICAR and IFN-α-2b could effectively inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis of K562 cells. The inhibition rate of K562 cells was (45.26±2.54)%, and the early apoptosis rate was (33.72±0.23)%, which was statistically significantly different from the control group, AICAR or IFN-ɑ-2b alone (P<0.05). The combination of two drugs promoted the expression of wild-type p53 protein. CONCLUSION AICAR and/or IFN-ɑ-2b can inhibit the cell proliferation and promote the apoptosis of K562 cells. The combination of two drugs shows synergistic antitumor effect, and its mechanism may be related to the promotion of high expression of wild-type p53 protein.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Formamides ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Interferons ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Ribonucleotides/pharmacology*