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.

Objective To investigate the differences in clinical symptoms and risk factors between non-elderly and elderly patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism(PTE).Methods Totally141 patients with acute PTE and 100 sex and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study.The final diagnosis was confirmed by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and/or pulmonary angiography and/or pulmonary perfusion imaging as well as medical history.The patients with acute PTE were divided into two groups according age:elderly group (n=78,age≥60 years),young group (n =63,age ＜ 60 years).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors of PTE and to confirm the risk of each factor.Results The morbidity rate of dyspnea,cough,chest distress and chest pain were 88.5％ (69 cases),76.9％ (60 cases),56.4％ (44 cases),15.4％ (12 cases) in elderly group,which was similar to 84.1％ (53 cases),69.8％ (44 cases),63.5％ (40 cases),25.4％ (16 cases) in young group (all P＞0.05)； while the morbidity rate of hemoptysis in elderly group [9.0％ (7 cases)] was lower than in young group [23.8％(15 cases)](P＜0.05).9％ (7 cases) in elderly patients without any symptoms were more than 1.6％ (1 cases) in young patients,but no significant differene (P＞0.05).There were more risk factors in the elderly group accompanying with diabetes (x2 =7.41,P ＜ 0.01),hypertension (x2 =14.51,P＜ 0.01),chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (x2 =7.42,P＜0.01) and previous stroke (x2 =4.91,P＜0.05)compared with young group.Independent risk factors for elderly acute PTE included COPD (OR:3.29,95％CI:1.04-10.46),previous deep veneus thrombosis(DVT) (OR:4.72,95％CI:1.68-13.27),cancers (OR:4.35,95％CI:1.00-18.13) and previous stroke (OR:5.13,95％CI:1.15-24.52).Independent risk factors for non-elderly PTE included previous DVT (OR:11.94,95％ CI:3.35-42.60)and cancers (OR:11.44,95％CI:1.44-89.92).Conclusions Much attention should be paid to the identification of diagnosis of acute PTE depending on the non-specific clinical features,although dyspnea may be the most frequency symptoms,but unexplained cough and chest distress should be alert for PTE.COPD,cancer,DVT and previous stroke are independent and important risk factors for elderly acute PTE.

Objective To approach the alleviating effect of medicative diet for food therapy on hepatic function of patients with gastric cancer and adjuvant chemotherapy after operation and supply references for effective treatment and nursing. Methods We divided 123 patients with gastric cancer after operation into the test group (65 cases) and the control group (58 cases).The control group adopted routine treatment project while the test group received medieative diet for food therapy based on routine treatment project. The changes in hepatic functions were compared between the two groups. Results The changes in hepatic functions of the test group were better than those of the control group (P<0.01 ). Conclusion Medicative diet for food therapy could significantly restore the seriously damaged hepatic function after chemotherapy.

Objective To explore the plasma expressions of monocyte chemotaxis proteins(MCPs) in patients with type A aortic dissection and their clinical significance.Methods 51 patients with type A aortic dissection were enrolled,in which 29 combined with hypertension.Fourteen hypertension patients and 1 1 hcalthy subjects were enrolled as control.Plasma samples were collected and we examined the levels of MCP-1,MCP-2 and MCP-4 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Plasma levels of MCP-1 and MCP-2 significantly decreased in patients with type A aortic dissection compared to healthy subjects(P ＜0.001),while MCP-4 had no change.Type A aortic dissection patients with or without hypertension both showed significant decreased plasma MCP-1 and MCP-2 levels compared to hypertension patients(P ＜0.001).There was no change of MCP-4 among different groups.Furthermore,Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between serum CRP levels and plasma MCP-1,MCP-2 concentrations.Conclusion Plasma MCP-1 and MCP-2 may participate in the pathogenesis of type A aortic dissection,and their concentrations were not correlated with hypertension or serum CRP levels.The detailed mechanism needs further observations.

Objective To observe the effect of adenosine A1 receptor on pain and electroacupuncture analgesia, and to explore the action mechanism of electroacupuncture in analgesia.Method Adjuvant arthritis rats were taken as the study subjects. 24 rats were randomized into a normal group, a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 8 rats in each group. The pain threshold was evaluated by using thermal radiation method, immunohistochemical method and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were adopted to observe the expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord.Result One day after modeling, the pain thresholds of right hind paw in the model group and EA group were significantly changed compared to that before modeling in the same group (P<0.01). The pain thresholds of right hind paw in the model group and EA group were significantly different from that in the normal group one day after modeling (P<0.01). 7 d after modeling, the pain threshold of right hind paw in the model group was still significantly lower than that before modeling in the same group (P<0.01), and it was significantly different from that in the normal group and EA group (P<0.01). The pain threshold was significantly enhanced in the EA group 7 d after modeling, and was significantly different from that of 1 d after modeling in the same group (P<0.01). The positive cell expression was lower in the model group and was significantly different from that in the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in the EA group was markedly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of the model group was significantly lower than that of the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of EA group was markedly higher than that of the model group (P<0.01).Conclusion EA can up-regulate the expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of adjuvant arthritis rats.

Objective To study the effects of compound preparations which contain docosahexenoic acid (DHA),soybean lecithin,and vitamin A on memory ability of children and to compare the difference between two compound preparations that contain DHA from marine algae and from fish oil.Methods Totally 160 11-12-year-old healthy children who were studying in a primary school in Baoshan District of Shanghai were enrolled in this study.All the subjects signed the informed consent form.Subjects were randomly divided into three groups with random numbers:marine algae DHA group(n=53),fish oil DHA group(n=53),and control group(n=54).Subjects in the marine algae DHA group were given compound preparation which contained DHA form marine algae,soybean lecithin,and vitamin A;subjects in fish oil DHA group were given compound preparation which contained DHA form fish oil,soybean lecithin,and vitamin A.The dose of DHA(200 mg DHA per capsule)and other components in the two groups was equal.Subjects in the control group were given a placebo with same appearance.The trial lasted 30 days.Each subject took a capsule per day.Immediately before and after the trial,subjects were tested by using the clinical memory scale compiled by the Institute of Clinical Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.Results Before the trial.there was no difference amongthree groups in terms of all items of clinical memory scale or memory quotient(all P>0.05).After the trial,except for associative learning(both P>0.05),the other items of the clinical memory scale and memory quotient in both marine algae DHA group and fish oil DHA group were significantly higher than those of control group(all P<0.05).No significant difference was noted between the marine algae DHA group and fish oil DHA group for all items of the clinical memory scale or memory quotient(all P>0.05).Conclusions DHA compounds can impreve the memory ability of children.DHAs with different sources have similar effect on memory ability.

Objective To analyze the early outcomes of the Sun' s procedure,which is an approach integrating total arch replacement using a 4-branched graft with implantation of a special stented graft in the descending aorta,and observe the mortality,morbidity and mid-term clinical results of postoperative in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD).Methods Clinical data of 61 consecutive AAAD patients undergoing the Sun' s procedure were analyzed.There were 53 male and 8 female,aged (54 ± 12) years.61 patients had postoperative follow-up and the clinical effect of Sun' s procedure were retrospectively analyzed.Results Cardiopulmonary bypass time was (229 ± 46) min,aortic clamping time was (147 ± 37) min and unilateral selective cerebral perfusion time was (35 ± 9) min.Reoperation for excessive bleeding in 5 cases (8.2％),acute renal failure in 3(4.9％),tracheotomy patients for pulmonary infection in 3(4.9％),and spinal cord injury in 2 (3.3％),delayed thoracic incision healing in 1 (1.6％),and osteofascial compartment syndrome of the right lower limb in 1 (1.6％).The 30 day mortality is 8.2％,and the leading causes was low cardiac output syndrome in 2(3.3％),multi-organ failure in 1 (1.6％),pulmonary infection in 1 (1.6％) and ruptured of abdominal aortic dissection in 1 (1.6％).The average follow-up time is(5.1 ± 0.7) years.Postoperative 1 year survival rate was 91.8％,5 year survival rate was 83.6％.Conclusion The Sun' s procedure has generated a relatively lower mortality rate in 61 patients with AAAD.Postoperative survival rate is high,and the reoperation rate is low.

Objective To investigate the serum levels and dietary intakes of copper, iron, and zinc among adult residents in Dahongshan copper mine area of Yunnan Province in China. Methods Serum levels of copper, iron, and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry among 180 subjects collected randomly from Dahongshan mine area, among which 171 samples were valid. Dietary intakes of copper, iron, and zinc of 60adults collected randomly from these 180 subjects were detected by chemical analysis. Results Serum levels of copper, iron, and zinc concentrations of 171 valid samples were (0.90±0.18), (1.25±0.93) , and (0.75±0. 28) mg/L, respectively. Serum copper was negatively correlated with serum iron (r = - 0. 26, P ＜ 0. 001). Serum copper was positively correlated with age (r = 0. 25, P ＜ 0. 001). Females had significantly higher serum copper than males (P=0.011). The dietary intakes of copper, iron, and zinc among these 60 subjects were (1.74±1.09),(16.29±10.73), and (7.56±3.38) mg/d, respectively, in which females had significantly lower dietary intakes than nales (all P ＜ 0. 05). Significant regional differences were observed both in serum levels and dietary intakes of copper, iron, and zinc. Conclusions The average serum levels of copper and iron are normal among adult residents in Dahongshan copper mine area, while the average serum zinc level is low. Dietary intakes of these three minerals do not exceed tolerable upper intake levels, and are low in some subjects.

Objective To evaluate the effect of cardamonin on acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) in rats.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 18-24 weeks,weighing 200-250 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group Sham);group HSR;cardamonin group (group CA);cardamonin + adenosina A2A receptor antagonist ZM241385 group (group CZM).Bilateral common carotid arteries were only cannulated in group Sham.The left common carotid artery was cannulated for blood-letting until mean arterial pressure was reduced to 35-45 mmHg and maintained at this level for 30 min,and the animals were then resuscitated by infusion of shed blood and normal saline two-fold volume of shed blood to establish HSR model in HSR,CA and CZM groups.ZM241385 5 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before blood-letting in group CZM,and cardamonin 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after the beginning of resuscitation in CA and CZM groups.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h after completion of resuscitation,bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of neutrophil count,and lungs were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes and for determination of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio),contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ct),interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and IL-6 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of adenosine A2A receptors in lung tissues (by Western blot).Results Compared with group Sham,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly down-regulated in group HSR,and the neutrophil count in BALF and contents of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased (P＜0.05),and no significant changes were found in W/D ratio,content of IL-1β,and expression of adenosine A2A receptors in group CA (P＞0.05).Compared with group HSR,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly up-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group CA,and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group CZM (P＞0.05).Compared with group CA,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly down-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes were aggravated in group CZM.Conclusion Cardamonin can attenuate acute lung injury induced by HSR in rats,and activated adenosine A2A receptors and inhibited inflammatory responses are involved in the mechanism.