AlM:To investigate the protective effect of astaxanthin (AST) on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).METHODS:Human RPE cells were subcultured, cell activity was detected by MTT, rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and cell ultrastructure changes were observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: MTT results showed that cell activity elevated to ( 53. 66%± 3. 25% and 70. 43%± 2. 38% after 10-8 mol/L and 10-4 mol/L AST treated. The difference had statistically significant (P<0. 05) compared with oxidative injury group (38. 76%± 3. 74%). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of RPE cells decreased to 30. 23%± 1. 91% and 12. 58%± 2. 12% in AST pretreated group, the difference was significant (P<0. 05) compared with oxidative injury group ( 42. 50%± 1. 94%); Electron microscopy showed that the morphology of cells gradually improved accompanied with the concentration of AST elevated.CONCLUSlON:AST may inhibit hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of RPE cells, it can provide reliable evidence for pursue effective medicine to prevent and treat retina injury.

Age Determination by Skeleton ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Yin-Yang

Adolescent ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

Adult ; Altitude ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

Objective To assess the inlfuence of depth on liver stiffness measurement with real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) and determine the optimal depth for SWE in liver. Methods SWE of liver was performed on 89 healthy volunteers between May 2012 and November 2012. The depths of each liver were varied from 0 cm to 7 cm (from the liver capsule) in 1 cm increment and there were 8 depth groups in total. Then the elastic modulus of liver in each depth group were measured three times by SWE. The body mass index (BMI) and the distance from body surface to liver capsule were documented. The success rates and the mean elastic modulus of each group were calculated. Results The success rates of 0-7 cm were 0, 98.9%(88/89), 98.9%(88/89), 98.9%(88/89), 71.9%(64/89), 24.7%(22/89), 3.4%(3/89) and 0, respectively. The success rates were highest in 1 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm groups but signiifcant decreased with the increasement of depths in 4 cm, 5 cm and 6 cm groups ( 3 cm vs 4 cm, χ2=25.94, P<0.001; 4 cm vs 5 cm, χ2=39.68, P<0.001;5 cm vs 6 cm,χ2=16.79, P<0.001). The mean elastic modulus of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm groups were (4.77±0.99), (4.68±0.99), (4.76±0.95), (5.19±1.10) and (5.41±0.95) kPa, respectively. The mean elastic modulus of 4 cm and 5 cm groups were signiifcant higher than those of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm groups (4 cm vs 1 cm, t=-2.85, P=0.005;4 cm vs 2 cm, t=-3.49, P=0.001;4 cm vs 3 cm, t=-2.76, P=0.006;5 cm vs 1 cm, t=-3.13, P=0.002;5 cm vs 2 cm, t=-3.66, P=0.000;5 cm vs 3 cm, t=-3.05, P=0.003). In the group of 4 cm, the BMI and the distance from body surface to liver capsule of the volunteers performed successfully and unsuccessfully were (20.70±2.87), (22.07±2.42) kg/m2 and (1.45±0.25 ), (1.60±0.29) cm, respectively. In the group of 5 cm, the BMI and the distance from body surface to liver capsule of the volunteers performed successfully and unsuccessfully were (19.82±2.76), (21.49±2.72) kg/m2 and (1.35±0.21), (1.54±0.26) cm respectively. The BMI had no signiifcant difference between the successful and unsuccessful groups (t=-2.83, P=0.108 for 4 cm;t=0.77, P=0.709 for 5 cm), but the distance from body surface to liver capsule was signiifcantly different (t=26.51, P=0.012 for 4 cm;t=79.57, P=0.004 for 5 cm). Conclusions The success rates and elastic modulus were different at different depths. SWE should be performed at the depths of 1-3 cm from the liver capsule.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation, growth, invasion, and metastasis of human cancers. Moreover, β-catenin/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) interaction regulates the transcription of the key oncogenes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, β-catenin/TCF4 interaction would be a promising therapeutic target for the development of highly selective anticancer agents. At present, most ongoing small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including PKF222-815, iCRT3/5/14, LF3, and sanguinarine, have been developed in preclinical studies for human cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the research advances of up-to date inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including the molecular structure and cellular functions of β-catenin in canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This review holds a hopeful avenue for the development of novel and highly selective Wnt inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction for future anticancer strategy.

Objective To investigate the fluctuation of the iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) through continuous monitoring on it. Methods During 2005-2008, 10 monitoring countis (city,district) of IDD were selected in Jiangxi Province. Five townships were selected in each monitoring county, one school was selected in each townships, and 40 students in 8-10 years old from each school were selected to inspect their thyroid glands and determined the idodine content of salts from their home. Among the 40 students, 20 of which were selected to determine the intelligence quotient(IQ) and 6 of which were selected to determine urine iodine. Thirty pregnant women were also selected to determine the urine iodine in each monitoring county. Twenty students of 5th grade in each school and 5 housewives living nearby the school were selected to carry out the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD. Results Monitoring results showed the average goiter rote of 8-10 years old students was between 2.00% and 4.60% during 2005-2008. The rate of IQ of the students higher than 90 was all above 76% each year. The median of urine iodine of students and pregnant women was higher than 100 μg/L, and the proportion of people whose urine iodine content was lower than 50 μg/L was below 4% each year. The rate of inhabitant taking qualified idodine salt wasn't lower than 95%. The pass rate of the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD was between 11.67% and 43.50% in students and 92.50%-99.60% in housewives. Conclusions The situation of iodine deficiency in Jiangxi Province has been greatly improved, reaching the standard of eliminating IDD.

Objective To study the effects of different glucocorticasteroid(GCS) inhalation regimens for remissive children with asthma. Methods Three hundred and twenty - three patients with moderate asthma were enrolled on a 12 - week randomized parallel group remissive treatment after a 4 - week baseline treatment. During the baseline treatment terbutaline sulfate 250 ?g tid a day and bud esonide 200 ?g twice a day were given, and oral bronchodilators were used if necessary. The remissive treatment were composed of budesomde inhabit ion 100 ?g once a day (group A), 100 ?g twice a day(group B) and 200 ?g once a day(group 0). Patients subsequently returned to the clinic for 3 additional clinic visits (4,8 and 12 weeks) or telephone visits . On every clinic visit, the daytime and nocturnal time seventy score were recorded and spirometry was conducted in patients who were capable of performing the maneuver. Results Ultimately, 323 children were enrolled on the baseline treatment and 281 (87%) children achieved clinical remission. The rate of compliance decreased gradually during the remissive treatment, but in group B(P

Objective To explore clinical significance of immunoglobulin G(IgG) subclass and the relationship with urine enzyme series and four microalbumen in Henoch - Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN). Methods IgG subclass, urine enzyme series, microal-bumen were detected between 28 cases with HSPN and 20 controls. Results The levels of IgG1, IgG2 in HSPN significantly decreased compared with the normal controls. In addition, the levels of IgG, were negative related to microalbumin(MA) and alkaline phosphalase (ALP) in HSPN, P

Objective To investigate the value of ~1H-MRS in the diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse axonal injury(DAI).Methods A prospective imaging study was performed in 63 patients with craniocerebral injury admitted from October 2002 to April 2004.Sixty-three patients were divided into DAI group(27 cases)and Non-DAI group(36 cases)according to the result of the MRI.Then,the ratio of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,mINs/Cr,and GIx/Cr at basal ganglia and genu and splenium of corpus callosum was quantified using ~1H-MRS and compared between DAI group and Non-DAI group.Twenty healthy persons were served as control group.The relation between ~1H-MRS indexes and period of primary uneonciousness post-injury was analyzed.Results The results of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr at genu and splenium of corpus callosum and basal ganglia of control group were 1.19?0.18,1.21?0.24;1.89?0.17,1.84?0.14; 1.57?0.16,1.85?0.25,which of DAI group were 0.83?0.24,2.92?0.78;1.25?0.35,2.54? 0.42;1.33?0.17,2.38?0.44,and those of Non-DAI group were 1.11?0.23,1.61?0.33;1.61? 0.22,1.93?0.26;1.49?0.23,1.89?0.29.The differences between them were statistically significant (P